Indian skipper Virat Kohli is on the cusp of making a huge breakthrough in Test cricket, ahead of their three-match series against South Africa, which begins on December 26 in Centurion.
Other Batsmen who Achieved this Record
Kohli is 199 runs short of completing 8000 runs in Test cricket. At whichever moment he reaches the milestone over the three Tests against the Proteas, the 33-year-old would become the sixth Indian batsman to do so.
The first five Indians to reach 8000 Test runs are Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, VVS Laxman, and Virender Sehwag.
Kohli, who hasn’t made an international hundred in more than two years, could become the third quickest Indian to do so, after Tendulkar (154 innings), Dravid (158 innings), and Sehwag scored in 160 innings if he hits 199 in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park.
Kohli in Test Matches
Overall, Virat Kohli will become the 33rd batter in Test Cricket history to amass 8000 professional runs. Kohli has appeared in 97 Tests, scoring 7801 runs at an average of 50.65. He is tied with Steve Smith, Allan Border, and Graeme Smith for the sixteenth position on the configuration’s list of most hundreds (27) with 27.
Rishabh Pant eyeing on record
In the meantime, another Indian player, Rishabh Pant, is on the verge of breaking a huge milestone during the South Africa series as he approaches 100 dismissals in Test cricket.
True, he might beat the previous Captain MS Dhoni’s record for the quickest Indian wicketkeeper to 100 Test dismissals. Dhoni achieved the feat in 36 Tests, and Pant just needs three more excuses to match his tutor’s record.
With 294 dismissals, Dhoni leads the Indian list, followed by Syed Kirmani (198), Kiran More (130), Nayan Mongia (107) and Wriddhiman Saha (104).
He already has 97 dismissals from 25 Tests and will become the sixth Indian wicketkeeper to reach the mark and the joint-fifth quickest overall if he does it in the series opener against South Africa.
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South Africa Vs India in Test Series
South African captain Dean Elgar said that he is aware of his team’s lack of engagement as they prepare to face India in a Test series at home. Still, he also stated that it is an opportunity for the younger players to secure their spot in the squad.
It is the first time the Proteas have assisted India in a Test series since the crucial 2017/18 series, in which they won 2-1. Since then, India has won back-to-back Test series in Australia and leads an ineffective Test series in England 2-1.
Furthermore, quick bowling legends Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, and past captains Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, and Hashim Amla have resigned from cricket or Test cricket since India’s last visit to the Rainbow Nation.
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