Pune Test Day 2: Virat Kohli (254 not out) shatters records as India continue domination over South Africa

Tags: South Africa tour of India 2019, South Africa, India, Virat Kohli, India vs South Africa, 2nd Test at Pune, Oct 10-14, 2019

Published on: Oct 12, 2019

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India captain Virat Kohli, on Friday, smashed his seventh double hundred as India declared their first innings at 601 for 5 and then had the South Africans reeling at 36 for 3

Kohli remained unbeaten on 254 from 336 balls, an innings featuring 33 fours and two sixes. He found good support in vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja, who made 59 and 91 respectively, as the Proteas bowlers toiled away cluelessly. Umesh Yadav then made an impressive comeback to Test cricket dismissing Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram cheaply before Mohammed Shami added to the visitors’ woes, having Temba Bavuma caught behind.

The day, however, belonged to Indian skipper Kohli, who walked over many milestones during his stay at the crease. With his seventh double hundred, Kohli now becomes the Indian batsman with most double centuries, overtaking Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, who had six each. Don Bradman is on the top of the list of most double hundreds -- with 12.

With his 9th 150 plus score though, Kohli did go past Bradman as the captain with most 150 plus knocks in Test cricket. The Don had managed eight in his illustrious career.

The hundred on Friday was Kohli’s 40th as captain in international cricket. He is just one behind Ricky Ponting, who had 41 hundreds as international captain.

The century was Kohli’s 19th as Test captain. He is now equal with Ponting in that aspect, and is only behind South African Graeme Smith, who registered 25 hundreds as Test captain.

With 26 Test tons, Kohli went past former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (25) on the list of batsmen with most Test hundreds. He is now tied with Gary Sobers and Steve Smith, both of whom also have 26 Test hundreds to their name.

With 7,054 Test runs, Kohli is now seventh on the list of Indian batsmen with most Test runs. During his innings on Friday, he went past Dilip Vengsarkar, who scored 6,868 runs in his Test career.

Kohli’s 254 not out is now his personal Test best, beating the 243 he made against Sri Lanka at Delhi in December 2017.

--Renin Wilben Albert

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