On the third day of the second Test against Australia in New Delhi, he became the fastest to reach 25,000 international runs
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Virat Kohli, one of the modern-day great batters in international cricket history, has reached another remarkable milestone in his career. On the third day of the second Test against Australia in New Delhi, he became the fastest to reach 25,000 international runs. Kohli beat his hero and Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar, who had attained the milestone in 577 matches. Virat, on the other side, accomplished this in 549 matches. Ricky Ponting (588), Jacques Kallis (594), Kumar Sangakkara (608) and Mahela Jayawardene follow Virat and Sachin (701).
Kohli smashed the first ball thrown by spinner Nathan Lyon for a boundary in the long-on zone in the 12th over of India’s second innings in pursuit of 115 runs. He had played a calm knock of 44 runs in 84 balls in the first innings. He has now scored 25,012 runs at an average of 53.55 in 492 matches and 549 innings. In international cricket, Virat has 74 hundred and 129 half-centuries, with a high score of 254*.
Virat has scored 12,809 runs in 271 ODIs at an average of 57.69. In the format, he has 46 tonnes and 64 half-centuries, with a high score of 183. The hitter has also scored 4,008 T20I runs at a 52.73 average. In the format, he has a century and 37 fifties. This makes him the fastest hitter to reach the milestone. He overtook compatriot and icon Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 25,000 runs in 577 innings. He is presently the sixth-highest run-scorer in international cricket history.
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In terms of the match, India were set a target of 115 runs to take a 2-0 series lead. A scintillating performance by spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, including a seven-for by the latter, saw Australia dismissed for 113 in their second innings of the ongoing second test at Delhi’s Ferozshah Kotla on Sunday, setting the hosts a target of 115 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
The third morning promised to be an exciting fight of bat and ball, with both teams vying for a decisive victory. Nevertheless, it was the Indian bowlers who triumphed in the morning session, as Australia were bowled out for 113 runs in just over an hour. India went on to win the game by six wickets, with Cheteshwar Pujara leading the way in his 100th Test match.
