Virat Kohli Scores 30th Test Century, Surpasses Sir Don Bradman As India Set Australia 534-Run Target

Iconic India batter Virat Kohli scored his 30th Test century on Day 3 of the first Test against Australia in Perth.

Kohli reached the milestone in 143 balls as India declared their second innings at 487/6, setting Australia a target of 534 runs to win.

Photo Credit: PTI

This century marked Kohli's first Test ton in 16 months, surpassing Australian legend Sir Donald Bradman in the list of players with the most centuries in the longest format. Kohli had been tied with Bradman on 29 centuries before this match.

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 49 Test centuries, having retired in 2013. Kohli is now the fourth Indian to score 30 or more centuries, joining Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (36), and Sunil Gavaskar (34) as the only Indians with more Test centuries than him.

Kohli was unbeaten on 100 when stand-in India captain Jasprit Bumrah declared the innings. Nitish Kumar Reddy was also not out on 38 at the time of declaration.

Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a superb 161, giving India a psychological advantage in the five-match series. Jaiswal, who grew up in the slums of Mumbai and once sold snacks on the streets to survive, played a mature innings of 297 balls, hitting 15 fours and three sixes. The 22-year-old looked set for a second career double century but was dismissed by Mitchell Marsh, caught by Steve Smith at point, to a standing ovation.

Australia also removed Devdutt Padikkal (25), Rishabh Pant (1), and Dhruv Jurel (1), following the dismissal of KL Rahul (77) before lunch. Rahul's departure ended a 201-run opening partnership with Jaiswal, setting a new record for India in Australia, surpassing the previous best of 1986 held by Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth in Sydney.

India resumed their innings with a 218-run advantage after having gained control on Day 2 when Australia were dismissed for a meagre 104 in response to India's 150.