Virat Kohli beat Sachin Tendulkar to become the 2nd fastest to 25 Test centuries with his sixth ton in Australia, which rated as his best by many former cricketing greats.
The 30-year-old Kohli achieved the feat in 127 innings while Tendulkar had taken 130 innings to achieve the same. Australia’s Sir Donald Bradman is the fastest to 25 hundreds. He reached the milestone in a remarkable 68 innings.
Kohli’s masterful 123 took India to 283 in reply to Australia's first-innings total of 326 all out.
Kohli reached his seventh century against Australia in style, playing a classic drive off Mitchell Starc.
On reaching the three-figure mark, Kohli removed his helmet and placed it on the green turf at the Optus Stadium. The Indian fans roared from the stands as their hero pointed at his bat and gestured with his fingers in a manner that suggested: 'I let the bat do the talking' rather than the mouth.
The innovative celebration caught the attention of the cricket world.
It was also Kohli's sixth century in Australia, lifting him equal with Tendulkar as the only Indian batsmen to reach that tally, and gave him the honour of becoming the first Test centurion at the new Perth Stadium.
Kohli is now the 11th batsman to complete 1000 Test runs in a calendar year overseas and the third Indian to achieve the mark after Rahul Dravid (1137 runs in 18 innings in 2002) and Mohinder Amarnath (1065 runs in 16 innings in 1983).
Kohli is also the first Indian skipper to reach the milestone and the third overall captain after Australia's Bob Simpson and South Africa's Graeme Smith.