Virat Kohli ends the year 2021 with no international century and a 768-day drought.

Virat Kohli, India’s Test captain, failed to get a century in international cricket in 2021 after departing for 18 in the second innings of the ongoing first Test against South Africa on Wednesday (December 29). Kohli was dismissed in the 33rd over by South African bowler Marco Jansen as the batter’s quest for a 71st century continued.

Kohli had also failed to hit the triple-figure mark in 2020. On November 22, 2019, the Indian captain made a century in a day-night Test against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens. In the last 22 innings, he’s had a century jinx that’s lasted 768 days.

Kohli averaged 54.97 before his last century against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, blasting 27 Test centuries; but, in 14 Test matches after his last century, he has averaged 26.08, scoring only 652 runs without a ton. He’s now got five half-centuries in a row.

In terms of the game, on Day 4 of the first Test match at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday, South Africa held India at bay in the first session. Before Kohli left this morning, India lost Thakur, the nightwatchman, and KL Rahul. India presently has a lead of almost 250 runs, but the visitors have lost six wickets.

India lost Mayank Agarwal’s wicket on the verge of stumps on Tuesday, but the visitors still led the first Test after Day Three. In the third session, India had bowled South Africa out for 197 runs before losing Mayank’s wicket minutes before the end of play. On Day 3, Mohammed Shami took a five-wicket haul and reached 200 wickets in the game’s longest format.