Australia vs India 2018-19: 5 Records Virat Kohli can break in the Test series

Virat Kohli is the torch-bearer of world cricket right now. He has been dominating the bowlers across formats all over the world for a while, and looks set to continue doing that for many years to come.

With Kohli being only at the halfway stage of his career, some of the numbers he has compiled already are mind-boggling. Future generations of players may not even come close to the records he is likely to set.

He has been the Man of the tournament in the last two T20 World Cups, and scored a staggering 973 runs in IPL 2016. To put the magnitude of the latter achievement into perspective, the second best all-time aggregate in the IPL is 735 runs by Kane Williamson.

As far as ODIs are concerned, Kohli is at a different level altogether, with experts calling him as gold standard in the format.

But for Kohli, Test cricket is the ultimate test of his character. He kick-started his Test domination when India toured Australia in 2010-11, but he still has a few mountains to scale in the format.

With India all set for another battle Down Under, let us look at the records which Kohli has the chance of breaking in the series.

#1 Quickest to 1000 runs in Australia

Virat Kohli is one guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. He is always in the face of the opposition, and never backs down when anyone has a go at him.

Australia is a country where there is a huge challenge for the batsman every single moment, because not only do they face a fiery bowling attack, they also have to deal with the Australian public which always tries to get under the opposition's skin.

That, however, brings the best out of Kohli.

Kohli at the pink test in 2015

In just eight Test matches in Australia across two series, Kohli has scored 992 runs at an average of 62. If he scores eight more runs in the first test, Then he would become the quickest to 1000 runs in Australia.

Australian batting legend Don Bradman has been holding the record of 10 Tests for 87 years. It's time for King Kohli to take over the crown.

#2 Most 100s by a visiting captain in Australia

'Century' is a word that is synonymous with Virat Kohli. Few batsmen have ever scored centuries all over the world at a rate at which the Indian captain has done.

Kohli has the best innings/century strike rate among batsmen with a minimum of 30 international centuries. Since taking over the captaincy, his century-scoring pyrotechnics have gone to another level.

Kohli en route to a century

It was during the 2014-15 tour Down Under that he took over the responsibility for the first time, and he led from the front - scoring three centuries in two matches. If he scores two more in this series then he could beat Clive Lloyd's 33-year-old record of most 100s by a visiting captain in Australia.

Kohli was the sole century-maker in the series when India toured South Africa earlier this year, and he also scored two centuries in England this summer. Indian fans would be hoping for a similar show in Australia.

#3 Most runs in a calendar year

Virat Kohli

'Run machine' is the perfect tagline that could be associated with the Indian captain. Be it white-ball cricket or red-ball cricket, his willow has never failed to produce runs all over the world.

In 2018, he has taken his game to another level by dominating bowlers in their own backyard. Kohli has scored 2476 runs across all formats in 2018, and the staggering fact is that he was rested for a Test series, an ODI series and two T20 series this year.

Had he played them, he would have already beaten Kumar Sangakkara’s record of 2878 runs in a calendar year. But with three of the Tests being scheduled in 2018, Kohli is in line to overcome Sangakkara's record anyway.

The Delhi batsman has scored a bucketload of runs Down Under before, especially during the 2014-15 tour where he slammed 692 runs. He is expected to continue his run-scoring spree and if he scores 403 runs in the first three matches, then it will add another feather to his cap.

#4 Most 100s by a visiting batsman at Adelaide Oval

Virat Kohli

If there is one ground that Kohli could consider as his home ground in Australia, then it has to be the Adelaide Oval. And that's not because of the extensive Indian population in South Australia, but because of his incredible run-scoring spree at the ground.

Kohli scored his maiden Test hundred at this very ground in a series where he was the lone bright spot, in 2012. He came back again in 2014 and scored a century in each innings to become the youngest captain ever to score twin centuries in a Test match. In the process he also became only the second player ever to score two centuries on his captaincy debut.

With three centuries, Kohli along with the legendary Jack Hobbs holdd the record for most 100s by a visiting batsman at Adelaide Oval. The series opener is scheduled at Adelaide, and it won’t be a surprise if he scores another ton to own this record.

#5 Most 100s in a calendar year

Virat Kohli

Sachin Tendulkar, who holds most of the batting records in both the formats, had an incredible run in 1998 which included the two desert storm innings against Australia. He scored 12 international centuries in that year alone.

Kohli, who is threatening all the records of the Master Blaster, is looking to beat this record as well. In fact, he came very close to breaking the record by scoring 11 centuries in 2017.

Kohli has a shot at the record this year. His willow has produced 10 centuries across formats in 2018. If he can score three centuries in the first three Tests of the series, then not only the record, but likely also the Border-Gavaskar trophy, will be in his cabinet.