New Delhi: Virat Kohli shut down his critics in style by ending his long-standing century drought in Perth to help India thrash Australia by 295 runs in the first Test and go 1-0 up in the ongoing five-match Test series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Kohli scored an unbeaten ton in the second innings to return among the runs after enduring a rough patch in India’s last Test assignment against New Zealand at home.
All eyes will be on Kohli once again as India gear up to lock horns with Australia in the 2nd Test in Adelaide starting Friday, December 06. India will be looking to bag their second win in a row in the pink-ball Test that will be played at the Adelaide Oval. Kohli has a great record for India in pink-ball Test matches and will be hoping to continue his fine form in the 2nd Test.
How has Virat Kohli fared in pink-ball Tests:
India have so far played only 4 pink-ball Test matches and Kohli has been part of the XI in all of them. The senior India batter has scored 277 runs in 4 pink-ball Tests averaging over 46, including a solitary century which came in his first pink-ball Test match against Bangladesh in Kolkata. He is India’s leading run-getter in pink-ball Tests, highlighting his importance to the team.
Kohli slammed a brilliant 136 runs off 194 balls in India’s first-ever pink-ball Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2019. His knock was laced with 18 boundaries and helped knock India win the Test match comprehensively by an innings and 46 runs. Kohli’s second Test appearance came in the Adelaide Test against Australia in 2020.
He slammed an important knock of 77 runs in India’s first innings and was dismissed on just 4 runs in the second innings as the visitors were bowled out for a paltry 36 to lose the Test match by 8 wickets. Kohli scored 27 runs in his third appearance in a pink-ball Test which came against England in Ahmedabad in February 2021. India won the low-scoring affair in two days.
In his last pink-ball Test match against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in 2022, Kohli notched up 36 runs as India won the game dominantly by 236 runs. The former Indian skipper will be looking to utilise his experience of pink-ball Tests to perform well for India in the 2nd Test against Australia in Adelaide which gets underway on Friday.
Virat Kohli runs in pink-ball Tests:
Matches – 4
Runs – 277
Average – 46.77
Centuries – 1
Virat Kohli eyes Sachin Tendulkar’s record
Kohli will also be eyeing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s elite record in the 2nd Test against Australia. Kohli is one century away from going past Sachin in the list of batters with the most hundreds in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli currently has 8 centuries in the iconic series and needs just 1 more ton to break Tendulkar’s record for most tons in the history of the competition.
Team India batter Virat Kohli has a decent record in pink-ball Test matches and is expected to play a key role for the visitors in the 2nd Test against Australia in Adelaide. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
