5 Test records which is insurmountable even for King Kohli

Virat Kohli: The new milestone man in Indian cricket
Virat Kohli: The new milestone man in Indian cricket

Virat Kohli is the new milestone man in Indian cricket. If Sachin was an emotion, Virat surely is a passion. The hunger that he carries, the intensity that he exhibits, the performances he churns out makes him a "Showman" in cricket.

Brian Lara recently mentioned, "Virat is a true leader and a great advertisement to the sport". The man turned 30 and still has a long way to go but some of his cricketing feats never fail to mesmerize.

Steve Waugh showered praises on this sui-generis and remarked that he will own all the batting records by the time he retires except for the batting average of 99.94 held by Sir Donald Bradman.

Apart from Bradman's astronomical average, there are other records which even King Kohli might find difficult to surpass.


#1 Sachin Tendulkar's Test Runs - 15921

Sachin Tendulkar's Test runs is almost like scaling a Mount Everest
Sachin Tendulkar's Test runs is almost like scaling a Mount Everest

If Virat Kohli is the new milestone man, the original milestone man was none other than the great Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin's career which lasted for 24 years was adorned by class, dignity and temperament.

Tendulkar played a mind-boggling 664 International matches in which 200 matches were in the longest format. He also scored 15921 Test runs at 53.68 with a staggering 51 centuries and 68 half centuries.

Virat has shown immense consistency in Test Cricket. He has scored over a 1000 runs in 3 consecutive calendar years (2016-18) with 13 centuries including 6 double centuries, making him the only captain to achieve this feat. Virat has scored 6331 Test runs from 73 matches at 54.67 with a total of 24 centuries and 19 half centuries.

Even though Virat is quite ahead than Sachin after 73 matches, it looks almost impossible to score an another 10000 runs considering Virat has about 7-8 years of cricket left in him. If he is successful in scaling this peak, it would be a remarkable achievement.

#2 Rahul Dravid's tally of Test balls faced - 31258

Rahul Dravid: The man who personified concentration
Rahul Dravid: The man who personified concentration

If Sachin Tendulkar was a colossus, then Rahul Dravid was a giant. Dravid's game was built upon three basic principles: defence, balance and concentration. He would battle it out in the toughest of conditions against quality attacks with a single-minded dedication and still come up with the goods.

Some of the innings played by Dravid in Test cricket is a part of the Indian cricket folklore. He scored 13288 runs in 164 matches at 52.31 with 36 centuries and 63 half centuries. The most staggering fact is, he faced 31,258 balls in Test cricket alone which totals adds up to 5210 overs !!!

After playing 73 matches and 124 innings, Virat has faced 10,865 balls in Tests. Considering his ability to dominate and demoralize attacks, it is highly unlikely that King Kohli might ever surpass this record as he never plays for draws and only believes in winning.

#3 Adam Gilchrist's sixes in Test Cricket - 100

Adam Gilchrist: One of Australia's best ever
Adam Gilchrist: One of Australia's best ever

Adam Gilchrist was arguably the best wicket-keeper batsman in the history of cricket. He changed the definition of a wicket-keeper batsman with his audacious batting at number 7.

Gilly scored 5500 runs in 96 matches at an average of 47.60 with 17 centuries and 26 half centuries. But the most notable aspect is, his runs came at a strike rate of 81.95.

Gilchrist was adept in playing both pace and spin which helped him smash a century of sixes in Test cricket. He was a man of few words and made his bat do all the talking.

Virat Kohli is known for building a Test innings with poise and determination. Even though he plays an attacking brand of cricket, he never risks his wicket by going for audacious shots. This approach has allowed him to score 6 double hundreds, but he only has added 18 sixes to his tally after 73 Test matches.

It seems highly unlikely that Virat may change his approach and try something different which also means that King Kohli may never even come close to breaking this record.

#4 Sir Everton Weekes - 5 consecutive Test centuries

Sir Everton Weekes: A West Indian batting giant
Sir Everton Weekes: A West Indian batting giant

Sir Everton Weeks was undoubtedly the first superstar from West Indies. He originated from Barbados and was very skilful in playing fast bowling. When he made his debut against England, he failed in his first Test but redeemed himself in the third Test at Jamaica by scoring a majestic 141.

Sir Everton's turning point came against India in 1948, when he scored an unbelievable 4 back to back centuries and was almost on the verge to get a fifth consecutive ton when a questionable decision ruled him out for 90. By then he had scored 141, 128, 194, 162 and 101 in 5 consecutive Test innings which is still a record.

Virat Kohli has however come close to this record, but he could not surpass it. When India hosted Sri Lanka in late 2017, Kohli was in the middle of a purple patch and smashed 3 back to back centuries which included an unbeaten 104 which was Kohli's 50th International century followed by a 213 and a 243. However, this spell was broken when India toured South Africa and Kohli got out for 5 to Morne Morkel in Cape Town.

Although Kohli defies the law of averages, it seems unlikely that he may ever score 6 consecutive Test centuries.

#5 Ricky Ponting's Test Wins - 100

Ricky Ponting: A century of test wins
Ricky Ponting: A century of test wins

Ricky Ponting needs no introduction to the cricketing world. He was arguably the most successful Australian batsman and a great captain. He made his debut in 1995 and soon established himself as a vital cog in a strong Australian unit that dominated world cricket in the late 90's and early 2000's.

Ponting scored 13,378 runs from 168 Test matches at an average of 51.9 with 41 centuries and 62 half centuries. The most enterprising aspect about Ponting's career is the century of Test wins and he's the only player in cricket history to achieve this remarkable feat.

Virat Kohli is a match-winner and can turn matches on its head with his invincible batting. He has been the reason why India have registered some dominating victories in the recent past. He has been part of 37 Test victories in 73 matches, out of which 24 have come under his captaincy.

India may play another 80-90 matches before Kohli may take retirement and it seems a herculean task to win another 64 matches. If it happens, Kohli would arguably be the best ever to have graced Test cricket.

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Edited by Kumud Ranjan