Virat Kohli displayed sublime form in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as India managed to hold off the threat from the visitors and win the series 2-1. Virat Kohli scored 186 runs in 364 balls against his favourite opponents, ending a three-year drought for the former Indian captain in the longest format of the game. While the star fell short of a double-century, the innings is likely to mark a turnaround in the former captain’s form heading into the World Test Championship final.
By adding 186 runs to his total run tally, Virat Kohli also crossed the milestone 4000-run mark in home venues, becoming the third-fastest player to do so. The 34-year-old also crossed Brian Lara in the list of players with the most runs against Australia – scoring 4729 runs against Australia in 89 Tests. Let’s take a look at the five players who managed to achieve this feat on Indian tracks:
#5: Virat Kohli – 4144* runs
The fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was Virat Kohli’s 50th Test, and the expectations for the former Indian captain were very high. Virat Kohli failed to spark in the first three Tests of the series despite India taking a 2-1 lead in the series, and the batting-friendly track of Ahmedabad provided the ideal conditions for the 34-year-old to regain his form. By already scoring centuries in both T20 and ODI formats, Virat Kohli announced his return to form by the end of last year, but a century in Tests remained the ultimate challenge.
Virat Kohli has now scored 4144 runs in Test cricket on Indian grounds. His average of 60.05 is the highest of any player in India. In 77 innings, Virat Kohli scored 14 centuries and 12 half-centuries, with his highest score of 254 coming against South Africa in 2019.
#4: Virendar Sehwag – 4656 runs
Virender Sehwag is a familiar face to every Indian fan, known for his aggressive and destructive style of play for over a decade. Known for his two triple-centuries in the longest format of the game, Virender Sehwag scored 4656 runs in 52 fixtures for India. With an average of 54.13, the former Indian opener scored 13 centuries and 19 half-centuries in the format. For his outstanding record across all formats of the game, Virender Sehwag was chosen as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer of the Year twice in a row – in 2008 and 2009.
While his triple century against India’s arch-rivals Pakistan is more famous, his highest score in Test cricket came against South Africa at the Chepauk Stadium in 2008. Virender Sehwag reached the 300-mark in just 278 balls, making it the fastest triple century in the history of the game. A majority of Virender Sehwag’s runs came in partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, with both batsmen headlining the Indian batting lineup consistently for a decade.
#3: Sunil Gavaskar – 5067 runs
The first batsman to cross the 4000-run mark on Indian grounds, Sunil Gavaskar accumulated 5067 runs in the longest format of the game in 65 fixtures at an average of 50.16. What makes Sunil Gavaskar’s record even more impressive was the opponents he faced while scoring those runs – with the little master holding an extraordinary record against the pace attack of West Indies.
Sunil Gavaskar was also the first player to overtake Donald Bradman’s record of 30 centuries in Test cricket. Of the 34 Tests that Sunil Gavaskar scored in his career, 16 have come on home soil. With a hugely successful career for India in Test cricket, Sunil Gavaskar would go on to become an inspiration for many players – including Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
#2: Rahul Dravid – 5598 runs
India’s current coach Rahul Dravid scored 5598 runs in the format on home tracks, with 15 centuries and 27 half-centuries to his name. Often regarded as one of the finest batsmen in the longest format of the game, Rahul Dravid is known for his defensive style of play. India’s Mr. Dependable is also the fourth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, accumulating 13288 runs in 164 Tests.
Rahul Dravid’s impact was more clearly visible on the Indian team when they toured overseas – he scored more than 7000+ abroad, but he was a regular part of India’s Tests at home as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Apart from accumulating runs, Rahul Dravid holds the record of facing the most balls in Test cricket, spending the highest amount of time spent at the crease in Test cricket and being a part of some of the highest partnerships in the format.
#1: Sachin Tendulkar – 7216 runs
India’s legend Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most runs scored in India by a player in Test cricket. The Master Blaster accumulated 7216 runs on home tracks in a long career spanning three decades. With 22 centuries and 32 half-centuries, Sachin Tendulkar stands miles ahead of other players on the list. Being a part of 94 Tests for Team India partly explains Sachin Tendulkar’s impressive records, but his longevity and consistency in form were extraordinary even for his era.
In addition to this record, Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in both Test and ODI cricket. Virat Kohli scored the 75th century of his Test and ODI career in the fourth Test but is still 25 centuries behind Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 hundreds. It will be difficult for any batsman to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s records, as the tight scheduling and increase in popularity of the T20 format reduce the number of Tests and ODIs going forward.
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