India’s Virat Kohli was once again in fine form after his third one-day international century in four matches silenced critics doubting his place in the team.

Kohli, who is 34 years old, hit 166 runs without getting out to help India beat Sri Lanka by 317 runs on Sunday. This was his 46th ODI century and 74th in all formats.

The former captain ended last year with a century in an ODI against Bangladesh, and he started this year with another century in the first ODI of 2023 against Sri Lanka. This showed that he was back as a run machine in style.

Kohli went through a long dry spell last year. He didn’t reach three figures for more than a year.

Late in 2021, he quit as captain of the T20 team. In January 2022, he was fired as captain of the ODI team, and he also quit as captain of the Test team.

“In my case, in denial, frustration was creeping in. I was very cranky, very snappy in my space,” Kohli told the Indian cricket board’s website bcci.tv.

“It was not fair on Anushka, my close ones, it’s not fair on the people who support you. So I had to take responsibility and kind of put things in perspective.”

Photo by EPA/MATT TURNER