IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli scripts history with rock-solid fifty in 1st Test against New Zealand, becomes only 4th Indian to bag this colossal feat

Virat Kohli became just the fourth Indian batter to record 9000 runs in Tests after smashing a brilliant fifty on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand.

Sports Tak

• Fri • 18 Oct 2024

Virat Kohli

Highlights:

Virat Kohli became just the fourth Indian to clock 9000 Test runs.

Virat Kohli achieved this feat on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand.

India's batting maestro Virat Kohli scripted history on October 18, completing 9,000 Test runs during the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium. By crossing the 53-run mark, Kohli joined an elite group of Indian cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid, who have reached this remarkable achievement.

List of Indian batters with 9000 Test runs

Player	Matches	Innings	Not out	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50
SR Tendulkar	200	329	33	15921	248*	53.78	51	68
R Dravid	163	284	32	13265	270	52.63	36	63
SM Gavaskar	125	214	16	10122	236*	51.12	34	45
Virat Kohli	116*	197	13	9000	254*	48.91	29	31

Virat Kohli reached the 9,000-run milestone in his 197th Test innings, making him the fourth-fastest Indian and the 13th-fastest overall to achieve this feat.

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Kohli has added another feather to his illustrious cap by becoming the second-most capped Indian cricketer of all time. Playing his 536th international match against New Zealand in Bengaluru, he surpassed MS Dhoni's record of 535 caps. Only the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, with 664 caps, stands ahead of Kohli. Recently, Kohli achieved another big milestone by becoming the fastest batter to reach 27,000 international runs. He accomplished this feat in just 594 innings during the series against Bangladesh. In the ongoing Test match against New Zealand, Kohli scored a much-needed half-century, his first in 2024.

Kohli clicked just when India needed him the most as he scored a crucial 70 runs off 102 balls coupled with Rohit Sharma and Sarfaraz Khan's fifties.

New Zealand took a commanding lead in the first Test against India, securing a massive 356-run advantage in the first innings. Rachin Ravindra's century was the highlight of New Zealand's innings, as they posted a total of 402 runs.

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India, who were bowled out for a mere 46 runs in their first innings, fought back in their second innings. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal provided a solid start, adding 72 runs for the opening wicket. However, Ajaz Patel dismissed both openers, bringing Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan to the crease.

Kohli and Sarfaraz formed a crucial partnership, with both batsmen scoring half-centuries. Kohli's dismissal towards the end of the day left India trailing by 125 runs, setting up an exciting Day 4.