Virat Kohli looked in fine touch on day three of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru and he struck a solid 70. During his innings, he reached a significant landmark. He became the fourth Indian to scale 9000 runs in Test cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar (15921), Rahul Dravid (13265) and Sunil Gavaskar (10122) are the others who have gone past the 9000-run mark. It has taken Kohli 197 innings to reach the milestone which is the slowest among the four. Gavaskar was the first to reach the landmark in 1985 and he took 192 innings. Meanwhile, Tendulkar got to the feat in 179 innings and scaled the milestone back in 2004. Dravid was the last one to go past it and he was the quickest to do it – 176 innings.
Kohli’s form in Test cricket has been indifferent in the last few years. He had reached 8000 runs in his 100th Test match and what was his 169th innings. It has taken him another 28 innings to score another 1000 runs. After a three-year lull, Kohli had an excellent 2023 in Test cricket where he averaged 55.92 and struck a couple of tons. However, in 2024, he’s not been at his absolute best.
This 70 against New Zealand was his first Test fifty of the year. He scored a fine 46 on a tough pitch in Cape Town to start the year before missing the five-match Test series at home against England. His registered scores of 6, 17, 47 and 29 not out in four innings against Bangladesh.
However, the former India captain looked at his fluent best in his 102-ball knock which comprised of eight fours and a six. He shared an excellent 136-run partnership with Sarfaraz Khan for the third wicket to help India fight back strongly. He looked all set for a big one before he nicked the final delivery of the day to the keeper. The wait for his 30th Test ton continues. His last Test hundred came back in July 2023 against West Indies in Trinidad.
Kohli’s form will be critical for India going forward, considering India’s next series is in Australia – Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He has a brilliant record down under, scoring 1352 runs at an average of 54.08 and that includes six hundreds along with four fifties.
