As the WTC final approaches, Kohli is preparing to take on his favourite team, Australia, at The Oval beginning on June 7.
Virat Kohli is back. And all of the concerns, criticisms, and discussion about his century drought, his shape, and his place in the side are already a distant memory. The debate has now returned to routine, with all eyes on the records he can still break, with Sachin Tendulkar’s batting records standing as the ultimate prize. As the World Test Championship final approaches, Kohli has a few records in mind as he prepares to play his beloved side, Australia, at The Oval on June 7.
Kohli broke his international century drought last year in the Asia Cup event with an inconceivable T20I tonne. Later in the Bangladesh series, he broke his duck in the Test format as well, breaking it in the Ahmedabad tie earlier in March in the Border-Gavaskar series.
On Wednesday, India will begin their one-off play against Australia in the World T20 final, and Kohli will be aiming for a few milestones in the match, including those of Don Bradman and current India coach Rahul Dravid.
If Kohli gets a century at the Kennigton Oval, it will be his 29th century in the format, tying him with Bradman’s career total. Among active cricketers, he will still be one century shy of Australia’s Steve Smith, who now holds the record with 30 centuries. Joe Root comes in second with 29 tonnes.
Kohli also has a potential to break Dravid’s record against Australia if he continues to perform at his peak, which he does every time he faces the Aussies. He has scored 1979 runs at 48.26 in 24 matches against the side. If he scores 188 more runs, he would surpass Dravid’s record of 2166 runs against Australia, making him India’s third greatest hitter against the opposition after Tendulkar (3630) and VVS Laxman (2434).
Kohli’s run total might possibly surpass Virender Sehwag’s lifetime Test record of 8586 runs. Kohli, who has 8416 runs in 108 matches, is 170 runs shy of the record. After Tendulkar (15921), Dravid (13288), Sunil Gavaskar (10122), and Laxman (8781), the 33-year-old might become India’s fifth-highest Test run-getter.
