Virat Kohli Eyes Big Feat, Looks To Enter Special Club Of Batters In 3rd Test Against New Zealand

01.11.2024 - 02:41 sports.ndtv.com

India batting stalwart Virat Kohli is set to become only the third Indian to achieve an exceptional feat. If Kohli plays and bats in the third Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, he will follow in the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid and become only the third-ever Indian cricketer to bat 600 innings across all formats of international cricket.

Kohli is currently on 599 innings, having played 199 in Tests, 283 in ODIs and 117 in T20Is for India. Sachin Tendulkar tops not only the list of Indian cricketers with the most innings played but also the list among any cricketer ever, having batted 782 innings.

Mahela Jayawardene (725) and Ricky Ponting (668) round out the top three. Kohli will become the seventh batter in the history of cricket to notch up 600 innings.

Kohli has endured a rough patch in Test cricket in 2024. In five Tests in the calendar year, Kohli has managed only 245 runs at an average of 27.22, with only one fifty.

cricket India Cricket Team India vs New Zealand 2024 Ricky Ponting Virat Kohli Rahul Dravid Sachin Tendulkar Royal Challengers Bengaluru Australia New Zealand India

Virat Kohli returned with poor scores of 1 and 17 during the second Test match against New Zealand at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. In his first innings, the right-handed batter was dismissed in an embarrassing manner. Kohli was cleaned up for one run off nine balls by left-arm orthodox spinner Mitchell Santner as he missed a full toss delivery while trying to work it on the leg side. Not only the batter himself, but the commenators and the fans were also left in shock over mode of the dismissal. Reacting to it, former Australia cricketer Brad Hogg has said that Kohli was not in control of his emotions during his short stay at the crease.

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Team India faced a shocking 113-run defeat against New Zealand in the second Test in Pune. This loss turned out to be a historic one as New Zealand gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and ended India's 12-year-old winning streak at home in Test cricket. In the second Test, India needed 359 runs to win but they got bundled out for 245 as the Kiwi spinner Mitchell Santner wreaked havoc with his six-wicket haul. Apart from this loss, another major concern for Rohit Sharma and co is the poor form of star batter Virat Kohli.

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The Indian cricket team has already lost its ongoing home Test series to New Zealand. In the three-match affair, the Rohit Sharma-led side trails 0-2 against the visitors with a game to go. It also turned out to be India's first Test series loss on home soil in 12 years. Talks of India's dominance at home were put to rest by the Blackcaps, who fetched the best of the conditions on offer. While the hosts' defeat has put them under severe criticism, former South Africa captain and batter AB de Villiers has pointed out that there is nothing wrong with India.

Fresh Video Of Virat Kohli's Reaction After 'Heartbreaking' Dismissal In Pune Test Goes Viral

Batting maestro Virat Kohli was visibly heartbroken after his dismissal on Day 3 of the second Test against New Zealand, which India lost by 113 runs in Pune to concede the series. He was dismissed on 17 by Mitchell Santner, sparking an India batting collapse. With a mammoth target of 359 in front of them, India needed Kohli to stand tall with the Rohit Sharma and others already back in the hut. While Kohli did get a decent start, he was undone by a beautiful delivery from Santer, who got it to zip quickly off the surface. The ball hit him straight in front of the leg stump and umpire Richard Illingworth raised his finger.

Virat Kohli Can't Control Frustration After 'Unlucky' Umpire's Call Dismissal vs New Zealand. Does This - Watch

Virat Kohli was frustrated man on Saturday. The star India batter is not going through the best of phases. Before India's second innings against New Zealand in the second Test, Kohli's scores in the series read 0, 70 and 1. His latest innings was also not noteworthy as he fell for jusy 17 that left India reeling against New Zealand chasing a high target. Ultimately India fell short by 113 runs to slump to their first home Test series loss in 12 years. Kohli was left seething after his dismissal after he was trapped in front of the wicket by MItchell Santner.

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Fans sympathised with star India batter Virat Kohli after his 'unfortunate' dismissal on Day 3 of the 2nd Test against New Zealand in Pune. With a mammoth target of 359 in front of them, India needed Kohli to stand tall with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal already back in the hut. While Kohli did get a decent start, he was undone by a beautiful delivery from Mitchell Santer, who got it to zip quickly off the surface. The ball hit him straight in front of the leg stump and umpire Richard Illingworth raised his finger.