Record-Breaking Showdown: Virat Kohli's Chance To Surpass Sachin Tendulkar And MS Dhoni in WTC Final
The highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) final between Team India and Australia is just around the corner. Having secured their spot in the final for the second consecutive time, the Indian team is determined to overcome their last obstacle and seize the coveted ICC glory.
The upcoming match holds special significance as it has been a decade since India last clinched an ICC title. This milestone serves as an additional source of motivation for stalwarts such as Virat Kohli , Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been instrumental in shaping Indian cricket's success in the realm of Test matches.
The spotlight will be on Kohli, who has regained his formidable form in all formats. After facing disappointment as captain in the previous WTC final against New Zealand, the batting genius is determined to leave a lasting impact with his batting skills this time. The match will unfold at the iconic Oval in London, a neutral venue where neither team holds a distinct advantage.
Kohli boasts an extraordinary track record against Australia, amassing remarkable 1979 runs in 42 innings across 24 matches. This feat translates to an impressive average of 48.26, encompassing eight centuries—his highest count against any single opposition—alongside five fifties. Notably, in his previous Test appearance against Australia in Ahmedabad, Kohli achieved his personal best score of 186. As he gears up for the upcoming WTC final, he finds himself on the verge of attaining and possibly surpassing several significant records. Let's take a look:
1. Most runs in ICC knockouts
Virat Kohli has amassed a total of 620 runs in ICC knockouts, achieving this milestone in 15 innings across 16 games. His impressive record includes six half-centuries. To surpass the legendary Sachin Tendulkar , who scored 657 runs in 14 innings, Kohli requires just 38 runs. Additionally, to claim the top position as the highest run-scorer in ICC knockout matches, he needs to accumulate 112 runs, overtaking Ricky Ponting's record of 731 runs in 18 innings.
2. Most ICC knockout matches
Currently, Kohli has participated in 15 matches in the knockout stage of ICC events, placing him on par with Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni , both of whom are in the third position. However, in the upcoming WTC final, Kohli has the opportunity to surpass Tendulkar and Dhoni, positioning himself just behind Yuvraj Singh, who has played 17 matches, and Ricky Ponting, who holds the record with the highest number of ICC knockout matches - 18.
3. Most international runs by an Indian batter in England
Rahul Dravid, the former captain, and current head coach, holds the record for the highest number of runs scored by an Indian batter in international cricket in England. With a remarkable total of 2,645 runs, he boasts an impressive average of 55 in 46 matches. Coming in second is the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who trails closely with 2,626 runs in 43 matches. Not far behind is Virat Kohli, currently occupying the third spot with 2,574 runs in 56 matches. Kohli needs just 72 more runs to surpass both Dravid and Tendulkar and claim the top position in this prestigious record.
4. Most runs against a single bowler in Test cricket
Virat has amassed a total of 511 runs against Australian spinner Nathan Lyon, securing the fourth position on the list. Cheteshwar Pujara holds the top spot with an impressive 570 runs against Lyon alone. Kumar Sangakkara follows closely with 531 runs against Saeed Ajmal, while Steve Smith is in third place with 520 runs against Stuart Broad. While Pujara has an opportunity to further extend his lead, Kohli also has a chance to surpass Sangakkara and Smith on the list, if not his fellow countryman Pujara.
5. 950 fours in Test cricket
Virat Kohli has accumulated an impressive tally of 941 fours in red-ball cricket and requires just nine more boundaries to reach the prestigious 950-mark. This achievement would place him among the esteemed company of cricket legends such as Vivian Richards, Steve Smith, David Warner, and Kevin Pietersen. At the pinnacle of the list stands Sachin Tendulkar, who reigns supreme with a remarkable 2058 fours in Test cricket.