Australia v India, first Test, day 3: Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal pile on the runs with twin tons

Yashasvi Jaiswal entered the stratosphere of gods and knights in Perth but Virat Kohli had the final word – announcing to the world there is still only one King.

Yashasvi Jaiswal entered the stratosphere of gods and knights in Perth but Virat Kohli had the final word – announcing to the world there is still only one King.

When young gun Jaiswal finally departed for 161 on Sunday, he was 15th in the all-time list of Test run-scorers before their 23rd birthday, with 1568 to his name including four centuries, all of which have been scores of 150 or more.

But as great as Jaiswal is going to be, Kohli made an extraordinary statement that he is not yet ready to abdicate his throne – producing a century for the ages which is his seventh career ton on Australian soil.

Under siege coming into the Test and even more in the gun after his first innings failure, Kohli surged back to post only his third hundred of the past five years, with his trademark footwork producing eight boundaries and two sixes.

Kohli was so out of practice it took him 20 seconds after the ball had hit the boundary rope for him to realise he was 100 not out.

The golden walk-off ton (as India declared) took him to 30 career centuries, past Sir Donald Bradman (29) and the emotion poured out of him as perhaps the most prolific overseas batsman to ever come to Australia paid tribute to his wife, Anushka in the stands.

“Anushka has been right by my side through thick and thin so she knows everything that goes on behind the scenes … what goes through your head when you don’t play,” Kohli told Fox Cricket.

“I just wanted to contribute to the team’s cause. I’m not a guy who wants to hang around just for the sake of it. I take pride in performing for my country and just feels amazing. The fact she’s here makes it even more special.”

Another Indian legend, Sunil Gavaskar warned this masthead even before the Test that Kohli, aged 36, was years away from being done with Test cricket.

“I’m not even looking at (potential retirement) because, you know, looking at his fitness, I think he could be in Australia maybe another four years down the road,” the Channel 7 commentator said.

“The only person who played successfully at the age of 40, I mean, apart from Sir Don Bradman, has been Sachin Tendulkar. Because even at the age of 40, he was peeling off 100s you know, scoring 50 plus. And Kohli has got that fitness.

“So certainly I don’t see that this tour is going to be his final tour. He’ll be very hungry. And I believe that’s not a good omen for Australia.”

Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal run between the wickets on Day 3 in Perth. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Whenever Kohli does decide to hang up the gloves, the next generational superstar of Indian and world cricket, Jaiswal, will be well and truly ready to take up the mantle – if he hasn’t already.

Among the 14 players ahead of Jaiswal on the best all-time list of batsmen under 23 are Sachin Tendulkar (2483), Sir Garfield Sobers (2213), Sir Alastair Cook (1936) and that man again, Bradman (1889).

And Jaiswal doesn’t turn 23 until December 28 - day three of the Melbourne Test. Jaiswal could quite conceivably bat five more times in Test cricket before he blows out those 23 candles, leaving a group including South African trio Graeme Smith (1881), AB de Villiers (1757) and Graeme Pollock (1739) within his sights.

Smith is the only other player whose first four Test tons have also been 150+ totals.

Having been dropped by Usman Khawaja on 51 late on Saturday, Jaiswal brought up his century by ramping Josh Hazlewood for six before stretching his arms aloft and looking to the heavens in celebration.

He survived run out chances on 101 and 143 when Pat Cummins and Travis Head’s respective shies missed the target.

Yashasvi Jaiswal acknowledges the crowd after making 161 in Perth. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP.

Indian great Sunil Gavaskar described Jaiswal as a “special” player.

“This boy is special. Looking at where he’s come from, the way he’s been batting and handling fame, it’s not easy sometimes to handle fame,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

“Against England, he scored more than 700 runs in five Test matches, two double-hundreds earlier in the year. And he looks so hungry for runs, which is what you want as a batter. A lot of us were told, ‘get a hundred.’ I think he says, ‘I want to get a 150 or 200.’ He’s hungry for runs, and that’s exactly what Indian cricket needs.

“A left-hander who at the top of the order can create problems for the bowlers, whether they’re Australian, English, whatever, because he brings a completely different perspective. He likes to play his shots. He’s not one of those really ultra-watchful batters. He’ll play his shots. Some of the shots that he played off Mitchell Starc tell you the confidence that he has. So clearly, I think, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has the cricketing world at his feet.”

Originally published as Australia v India, first Test, day 3: Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal pile on the runs with twin tons