Indian star Virat Kohli added another accolade to his illustrious career by reaching the 9000-run mark in Test cricket on day 3 of the inaugural Test between. India and New Zealand at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The experienced batsman hit his 31st Test fifty and reached the milestone during India’s second innings.
Virat Kohli happens to be the slowest Indian to do the job
Kohli scored 53 runs in the 42nd over, making him the fourth Indian player to cross the 9,000-run mark alongside cricket legends. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravidand Sunil Gavaskar. However, Kohli achieved this feat in 197 innings, making him the slowest among Indian icons. The knock also marked his first half-century in Test cricket this year, silencing doubts about his recent form and delivering when India needed it most.
Slowest to reach 9000 runs for India
- Virat Kohli – 196 innings in 2024*
- Sunil Gavaskar – 192 innings in 1985
- Sachin Tendulkar – 179 innings in 2004
- Rahul Dravid – 176 innings in 2006
The Bengaluru crowd went wild with Kohli’s classic knock
At the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the crowd was treated to a vintage Kohli performance. Then comes crease number 3 Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s early dismissal, Kohli struggled at the start as he left the mark with 14 balls to spare, but once he settled, the runs started to flow. cooperates with Sarfaraz KhanKohli anchored India’s innings. While Sarfaraz adopted a more aggressive approach, Kohli played with restraint, treating the crowd to some elegant cover drives and sharp shots down the ground. His every shot was met with cheers as the fans were happy to see their hero back in form.
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Bounce back after first shot failure
despite being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Kohli showed his mettle as he led India’s efforts to chase down a significant 356 run deficit. Undeterred by his earlier failure, he fought with determination and grace to help India recover and gain a solid footing. Even though Kohli eventually got to 70, his innings laid the foundation, putting India in a more comfortable position as they aim for a positive result in the Test.
Kohli’s latest achievement is testament to his enduring quality and ability to perform under pressure, and why he remains a key figure in India’s batting line-up.
