Virat Kohli during the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru on October 18, 2024Image Source : BCCI

Virat Kohli breaches major career milestone, joins legendary Indian trio in Test cricket record

Virat Kohli scored a brilliant fifty in the second innings of the opening Test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru and completed his 9000 Test runs on Friday. He became the only fourth Indian cricketer to reach this milestone in red-ball cricket.

by · India TV

Virat Kohli entered the history books during India's opening Test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru on Friday. Kohli scored a brave fifty in the second innings to complete 9,000 runs in Test cricket and became the only fourth Indian to achieve this historic feat.

After being bowled out on a duck in the first match, the former captain displayed some glimpses of returning to his best with a much-needed fifty in the second innings. Kohli achieved the 9000 Test runs milestone after reaching the 53-run mark at M Chinnaswamy Stadium and joined legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar in the elite list. 

Gavaskar achieved this milestone in 192 innings in 1985 while Tendulkar took 179 innings to score 9000 Test runs in 2004. Dravid was the last Indian cricketer to achieve this feat in 2006 and also the fastest in terms of the fewest innings of 176. 

Notably, Kohli reached his first 8000 runs in March 2022 but took more than two and half years to reach the 9000-run mark. Kohli took 70 balls to register his 60th fifty-plus score in red-ball cricket and first since December 2023.

Most Test runs for India

  1. Sachin Tendulkar - 15,921 runs in 200 Tests
  2. Rahul Dravid - 13,265 runs in 163 Tests
  3. Sunil Gavaskar - 10,122 runs in 125 Tests
  4. Virat Kohli - 9,000 runs in 116* Tests
  5. VVS Laxman - 8781 runs in 134 Tests

Meanwhile, after trailing 356 runs in the first innings, India make a sensational comeback in the second innings with Rohit, Virat and Sarfaraz Khan scoring fifties each. Rohit departed after scoring his fifty but Kohli and Sarfaraz pulled off a brilliant unbeaten 100-run stand for the third wicket to keep India on a track for big total in the second innings. 

West Indies vs New Zealand Live: When and where to watch WI-W vs NZ-W T20 World Cup semifinal on streaming?West Indies will be up against New Zealand in the Women's T20 World Cup semi-final for the third time in history and with the head-to-head tied, the stakes were never high for a cracker of a knockout clash. The winner will take on South Africa in the final.Edited By: Anshul Gupta, 18 Oct 2024Brad Haddin, Sunil Doshi to stay; Ponting likely to bring James Hopes to Punjab Kings from Delhi CapitalsPunjab Kings have revamped their coaching staff with Ricky Ponting hopping from the Delhi Capitals to the neighbouring state ahead of the 2025 edition of the IPL. While the Kings have parted ways with Trevor Bayliss and Sanjay Bangar, the 2014 finalists are likely to stay with a couple of members.Edited By: Anshul Gupta, 18 Oct 2024Shakib Al Hasan misses his farewell Test match in Dhaka; BCB calls Hasan Murad as replacementBangladesh are set to host South Africa in the first Test match in Dhaka starting on October 21 but will be without their star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan who was looking to retire from the red-ball cricket by playing his last game at his home ground.Written By: Sumeet Kavthale, 18 Oct 2024