Virat Kohli, the Indian batting superstar, has just smashed another huge milestone in Test cricket! He’s now scored a whopping 9000 runs in Tests, joining the ranks of batting legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. However, Kohli has done it in 197 innings, making him the slowest to reach the figure amongst Indians.
1st Test fifty in 2024 takes Kohli to 9000!
Virat Kohli endured a horrible form this year. His only fifty came during the all-important T20 World Cup Final against South Africa. However, the modern-day master looked in sublime touch in the ongoing 1st Test against New Zealand. After getting dismissed for a duck in the 1st innings, Kohli oozed confidence as he took down spinners and asserted his authority.
When the former Indian skipper reached the 52-run mark in Bengaluru, Kohli etched his name by becoming only the fourth Indian after Tendulkar, Dravid and Gavaskar to complete 9,000 runs in the toughest format of all. The fastest Indian to complete 9,000 Test runs was the former India coach Rahul Dravid, who did it in 176 innings.
Innings taken by an Indian to complete 9000 Test runs ft. Kohli
Player | Test innings |
---|---|
Rahul Dravid | 176 |
Sachin Tendulkar | 179 |
Sunil Gavaskar | 192 |
Virat Kohli* | 197* |
In Test cricket history, the record for smashing 9,000 Test runs in the fewest innings still stands with legendary Kumar Sangakkara, who did it in 172. Kohli’s ‘fab-four’ compatriot Steve Smith was remarkable as well, completing his 9,000 runs in 174 innings for Australia. Talking about the Fab Four, Kohli has now become the third member as Joe Root (12,716 runs) and Steve Smith (9,685) have already attained heights in the format for their respective nations. Kohli has smashed 29 centuries and 31 fifties in the format as of writing.
Most runs for India in Tests ft. Virat Kohli
Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Highest score | Hundreds | Fifties |
Sachin Tendulkar | 200 | 329 | 15921 | 53.78 | 248* | 51 | 68 |
Rahul Dravid | 163 | 284 | 13265 | 52.63 | 270 | 36 | 63 |
Sunil Gavaskar | 125 | 214 | 10122 | 51.12 | 236* | 34 | 45 |
Virat Kohli | 116 | 197* | 9000* | 48.90 | 254* | 29 | 31 |
VVS Laxman | 134 | 225 | 8781 | 45.97 | 281 | 17 | 56 |
Virender Sehwag | 103 | 178 | 8503 | 49.43 | 319 | 23 | 31 |
Sourav Ganguly | 113 | 188 | 7212 | 42.17 | 239 | 16 | 35 |