India’s barren Test tour of Australia has become a record-breaking triumph for Virat Kohli.

The No.4 batsman further enhanced his potential as India’s next permanent Test cricket captain with an outstanding century at the MCG.

The man who was once fined for giving Australian fans ‘the bird’ also exchanged words at one point with fired-up paceman Mitch Johnson.

Kohli, who was 104 at tea on day three, would fit right into the Australian top order – argumentative, stubborn and skilled.

His record stand with Ajinkya Rahane on the third day of the Boxing Day Test first blunted Australia and then took the initiative away from them.

Kohli was unfazed when he first edged Johnson through slips for four – prompting their brief conversation – and was then dropped two overs later by Shane Watson when on 88.

He is the first Indian since the great Sunil Gavaskar in 1977 to score three Test tons during an Australian tour.

After tea Kohli and Rahane brought up 196 for the fourth wicket – an MCG Test record.

It is also the highest partnership for any Indian pair at the ground.

Kohli skippered India in MS Dohni’s absence for the first Adelaide Test and scored twin centuries there.

In a series where India are 2-0 down and squandered so many opportunities, Kohli has gone from strength to strength.