Although Virat Kohli has been breaking one record after another during this year, there is still something that he hasn’t done yet – score the highest number of double centuries in a calendar year. However, batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar believes that the particular landmark can also be reached during the fifth Test against England in Chennai.
The Indian skipper has scored 3 double tons in his Test career thus far with all those coming in 2016. Having scored 4 double tons during his staggering run of form in 2012, former Australian captain Michael Clarke currently holds the record. Speaking to NDTV, Gavaskar expressed confidence in Kohli's ability to extend his dominant showing to Chennai too and finish the year on a high by joining Clarke’s exclusive club.
The 67-year old enthused, “Kohli can very well score four double centuries (in this year) as India still have one more Test to play against England. His form, throughout the year, has been brilliant. And his 235 at the Wankhede Stadium was absolutely special. I think the people present at the stadium on Sunday were privileged to see such a master class. There were several youngsters in the stands and it would be a great learning experience for them.”
Gavaskar himself was no stranger to breaking records during his heydays. The Mumbaikar amassed a mammoth 774 runs in his very first Test series which remains the best ever tally among Indian batsmen. At the end of the first innings of the fourth Test at Wankhede, Kohli has accumulated 640 runs at an average of 128.
If he does go on to score another double hundred in the Chennai Test, the Delhi dasher will go past Gavaskar’s Indian record as well. Interestingly, at the beginning of 2016, Kohli did not have a single double century to his name. Now, he has scored one in each of the 3 Test series that India has played in this year. Before the 235 in Mumbai, there was the 211 in Indore as well as the 200 in Antigua.
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Apart from him, the likes of Sir Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting, Brendon McCullum have also registered 3 double tons in a calendar year. But, Clarke leads the list by virtue of some of his scores in 2012 which read 329*, 210, 259* and 230. That the 28-year old Kohli already finds himself in contention of equaling an all-time record stands as a testament to his dedication and mental toughness.
Gavaskar noted, “The way he was running between the wickets shows a great deal about his physical fitness. With improved fitness, you become mentally stronger. Kohli didn't allow any sort of weakness. He scored runs quickly and was mentally sharp.”
The final Test of the series is scheduled to begin from Friday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. While all eyes would naturally be on the hometown duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Murali Vijay, Kohli’s majestic batting is expected to assemble another packed house.
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