IND vs WI: Virat Kohli Set To match Sachin Tendulkar's Unique 'Father-Son' Feat

11.07.2023 - 13:23 sports.ndtv.com

Virat Kohli is all set to match a unique feat achieved by Sachin Tendulkar in international cricket during India's upcoming tour of West Indies.

Kohli can become the second Indian cricketer ever in the history of the sport to play against a father-son duo in Tests away from home.

Kohli played against West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul during the 2011 tour and this time, he is most likely to face his son Tagenarine Chanderpaul.

Tendulkar achieved this exact feat in 2011 when he faced Shaun Marsh in Australia – almost 19 years after he played against his father Geoff Marsh.

cricket 2023 West Indies vs India Virat Kohli West Indies Rohit Sharma Sachin Tendulkar Vivian Richards Ajinkya Rahane Australia India

Former West Indies pacer Curtly Ambrose described stalwart batter Virat Kohli's play as "pleasant to watch" ahead of the second ODI of India's tour of West Indies. Kohli didn't come out to bat in the first ODI, but he made his mark in the two-match Test series with a sizzling ton in the second Test match. Speaking to "Khul Ke" on YouTube, Ambrose described the difference between Kohli and Rohit Sharma. "Very pleasant to watch, easy on the eyes, can score quickly, without getting aggressive. He is not like a six-hitter per se. Not that he can't do it, he can score as quickly as guys you call six-hitters. But wonderful player as well. He is great to watch," he said, describing Kohli's style.

Virat Kohli Equals New Zealand Great In Elite List, Eyes Ex-India Skipper's Huge Feat

Virat Kohli did not bat in India's five-wicket victory over West Indies in the first ODI match in Barbados but that did not stop him from adding another major accolade to his already illustrious career. Kohli pulled off a stunning catch at second slip off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja to dismiss Romario Shepherd and it was his 142nd catch in ODI cricket. He is currently tied in the fourth spot with New Zealand's Ross Taylor when it comes to cricketers with most ODI catches. Sri Lanka legend Mahela Jayawardene tops the list with 218 while Australia's Ricky Ponting is second with 160. Kohli will be looking to become the highest-placed Indian cricketer in the list by surpassing Mohammed Azharuddin who is third with 156 catches.

Watch: Virat Kohli's Strange Dance After Facing Hardik Pandya's Bowling At The Nets Goes Viral

After winning against West Indies in the Test series, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team will eye a good result in the three-ODI series that begins in Barbados on Thursday. The ODI squad bears a distinct look with the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya coming in. With the World Cup in a few months' time, the ODI series against the West Indies is part of that preparatory process. Ahead of the first ODI, Kohli faced Pandya in the nets and gave a bizarre gesture while batting at the nets.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma On Cusp Of History, Need 2 Runs To Achieve Landmark Feat

As the India vs West Indies ODI series star, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will have their sights set on an all-time record in the 50-over format. Together, the duo of Rohit and Kohli has done wonders for the Indian team, and now, they just remain 2 runs away from completing 5000 runs in ODI cricket as a pair. Going by the form Kohli has been in the 50-over format and the proficiency Rohit Sharma has shown in the Test series against Windies, the Hitman would also be eager to continue his hot form.

Rohit Sharma On Brink Of History, Set To Beat Sachin Tendulkar To Elite Milestone

The captain of the Indian team, Rohit Sharma, remains one of the most fearsome batters in world cricket. Having emerged as a true match-winner since his promotion as an opener, Rohit has won many matches for India en route to some big milestones. As the Indian team gears up for the West Indies ODI assignment, Rohit will have his eyes set on a huge milestone that will see him surpass all-time cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Ricky Ponting.

Virat Kohli 7th Most Influential Star On Instagram Above Kim Kardashian, Zendaya

Virat Kohli is currently the third most influential athlete on social media platform Instagram behind football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. According to HypeAuditor, the former Indian cricket team skipper has 255.6 million followers with his average engagement on the app varying between 4.1 million to 4.5 million per day. Overall, Kohli is seventh in the list ahead of well-known celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Hollywood actress Zendeya. When it comes to total number of followers, Ronaldo tops the list with 597.5 million but with respect to engagement and influence, the report claimed that the top spot belonged to renowned singer-songwriter Selena Gomez.