India is set to face South Africa in the first Test of their two-match series at Centurion on December 26. Historically, South Africa has been a challenging country for batters, especially for Indian players. However, Virat Kohli has somewhat defied this trend.
In his debut match in South Africa in 2013, Kohli scored 119 & 96 in Johannesburg, contributing significantly as India managed a draw after setting the hosts a target of 458 in the fourth innings.
The 35-year-old Virat Kohli is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to face the Proteas once again. In 14 Test matches against South Africa, Kohli has amassed 1236 runs, maintaining a commendable average of 56.18. In the South African conditions, across 7 Test matches, he has scored 719 runs at an average of 51.35. Notably, out of his three centuries and four fifties against South Africa, two centuries were achieved on South African soil.
Virat Kohli record against current South Africa bowlers in Tests
- v Rabada – 214 runs, 71.3 avg
- v Maharaj – 174 runs, 0 outs
- v Ngidi – 66 runs, 16.5 avg
- v Nortje – 44 runs, 44 avg
- v Jansen – 43 runs, 43 avg
- v Elgar – 32 runs, 0 outs
- v Mulder – 8 runs, 0 outs
- v Markram – 1 run, 0 outs
Kohli is on the verge of becoming the second-highest run-scorer for India against South Africa in Tests. With a total of 8676 runs in Tests, he is closing in on the milestone of 4500 runs in away matches (played in the home country of the opposition). Kohli boasts an impressive record of 29 centuries and 29 fifties in total, showcasing his consistency and dominance in the longest format of the game.
South Africa’s top spinner, Keshav Maharaj, has posed challenges for Virat Kohli in recent encounters. Despite Kohli scoring 174 runs against him in Tests, left-arm spin has consistently troubled the Indian icon. Maharaj has notably been effective against Kohli in ODIs, including the recently concluded World Cup. The question remains whether Maharaj can replicate his success in the longest format of the game.
