Virat Kohli will become only the 12th Indian player to reach 100 Test matches when he enters the field against Sri Lanka in the opening Test at Mohali on Friday. Despite his admission that he never expected to play as many Tests as he did, many in the cricket world feel his work ethic and early love of the game contributed to his success. It takes a massive deal of time and effort to play 100 Test series. Test cricket is a profession that demands a high level of ability. It’s one thing to learn one game; it’s but another to learn 100. Virat Kohli ought to be proud of what he has performed.
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Virat Kohli’s achievements: a look at his journey
In the first match, the Delhi batsman struggled, scoring only 19 runs. After a decade-long journey, Kohli will play his 100th Test match in Mohali on March 4. Kohli has scored 7962 runs at a brilliant average of 50.39 in 99 Test matches. Kohli captained India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them. He has a 58.82 percent overall victory percentage. Nobody has scored as many hundreds in Test cricket as Kohli has in the first ten years. Kohli had his best year in 2016 when he scored 1215 runs in 12 Tests.
Here are some of Kohli’s most memorable Test innings:
116 – Adelaide 2012
In the last Test of the 2011-12 tour, India met Australia. In the first two Tests, the right-hander only managed to score 43 runs. In his 14th Test innings in Adelaide, Kohli, on the other hand, struck his first century in the longest format. He batted at No. 6 in a middle-order that included Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and VVS Laxman in India’s first innings total of 272, and he scored 116 runs.
169 – Melbourne 2014
India arrived in Melbourne for the third game of their 2013-2014 tour of Australia after losing the previous two Tests. Kohli scored 169 runs against Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Shane Watson, and Nathan Lyon’s lethal attack. He and Ajinkya Rahane (147) put on a powerful 262-run fourth-wicket stand to help India draw the match. It was after this Test that Dhoni declared his retirement from the Test format.
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235 – Mumbai 2016
In 2016, England played India in a five-Test series. Kohli hit a double century in the match, which was contested at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. James Anderson, Chris Woakes, Jake Ball, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, and Adil Rashid were all dismissed by the right-hander. England batted first and amassed a total of 400 runs throughout the game. India, on the other hand, scored 631 runs and won by an innings owing to Kohli’s 235.
254 – Pune 2019
Virat Kohli’s visit to India in 2019 was crucial for him as a batsman, as he recorded his greatest Test score in Pune during the second match. Before declaring, India batted first and scored 601 runs. Kohli amassed a total of 254 runs throughout his innings. Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, and Senuran Muthusamy were among the Proteas’ bowlers, but Kohli remained unfazed, smashing 33 fours and two sixes in his innings.
Virat Kohli’s thoughts
Virat Kohli, on his approach to becoming the 12th Indian player to play 100 Tests, says he “never dreamed” he’d go this far and participate in such a historic match. Kohli has gone a long way in a decade, earning 7962 runs at a terrific average of 50.39 in the longest format after scoring only 4 and 15 in his maiden Test against the West Indies in 2011. On Friday, Kohli will play his 100th Test match against Sri Lanka. “Never in my wildest dreams could I envisage myself taking part in 100 Test matches. It’s been a long and winding road. Throughout those 100 Test matches, we played a lot of cricket.” In a YouTube video, Kohli made the assertion.
Facts about Virat Kohli’s Test Matches
- In December 2014, Kohli made his Test captaincy debut against Australia in Adelaide.
- In 68 Tests, Kohli has guided India to 40 triumphs.
- In December 2014, Kohli made his Test captaincy debut against Australia in Adelaide.
- Kohli, who has 25 centuries, is only the second player after legendary Australian Greg Chappell to achieve twin hundreds on his test leadership debut.
- Kohli, who has 25 centuries, is only the second player after legendary Australian Greg Chappell to achieve twin hundreds on his test leadership debut.
The best five-Test records are as follows:
- As a captain, Kohli has the second-most Test hundreds of any player. Only Graeme Smith (25) has a better time than him.
- Only Australia’s Steve Smith has more centuries since his debut than the former Indian skipper, who has more than David Warner, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson.
- The Indian squad headed by Virat Kohli has won 24 Test matches at home.
- Kohli is the Indian skipper with the most Test victories. India won 40 of their 68 matches under Kohli’s leadership.
- He became just the second cricketer to make two hundred in his Test leadership debut, following Greg Chappell.
Bottom Line
This is a significant achievement in any cricketer’s career. When you first start playing for your nation, your goal is to play 100 Test matches. This is an exciting time for Virat Kohli and Indian cricket in general. Kohli’s “complete confidence” has always assisted him in conquering adversities across the world. On Friday, he will open a new chapter in his career against Sri Lanka, at the age of 33.
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