Virat Kohli achieves huge milestone in red-ball cricket, enters 9000-runs elite club

Subhomoy Datta

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, the great Indian batter, became the fourth batsman in the nation to score 9000 Test runs, the fourth-highest in the format.


Virat Kohli became the fourth Indian batter after the likes of Indian legends, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar to have achieved the feat.

The great Sunil Gavaskar was the first ever Indian batter to achieve the milestone of 10,000 test runs and also the very first batter in the world with this great feat to score 10,000 test runs back in 1987.

Legendary Sachin Tendulkar was next on the list, followed by teammate Rahul Dravid. Both these batters surpassed the likes of Gavaskar for most test runs. Sachin Tendulkar has the most test runs internationally with 15921 runs, while Dravid finished fourth with 13288 runs in the format.

Virat Kohli now has 9017 runs in the format, which makes him the third-highest run-getter in the format among Fab-4 behind the likes of Joe Root and Steven Smith. Kohli scored a wonderful 70 runs in the second inning against the New Zealand team at Chinnaswamy Stadium, often referred to as his second home.

“King for a reason! What a player! Hopefully, 10k soon!” writes Sudheer, a fan of the veteran cricketer.

While the other X user comments on Kohli’s amazing achievement, “Virat Kohli – the GOAT.

What an incredible achievement! Becoming the 4th Indian to reach 9,000 Test runs alongside legends like Tendulkar, Dravid, and Gavaskar is a testament to his skill and dedication. Here’s to many more runs!”

A glimpse of India vs New Zealand red-ball action across both days from the Chinnaswamy Stadium

India vs New Zealand: Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz help India reduce trail to 135 (Image Credit: X)

India began their home test series against New Zealand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, when Rohit won the toss on Day 2 after Day 1 was totally washed off due to rain.

Rohit, who won the toss on a clear day on Day 2, opted to bat first, hoping for a usual flat batting track at the Chinnaswamy. However, the decision didn’t go in India’s favour as they were all-out for just 46 runs, their second-lowest-ever score in the history of the format as well as the WTC.

New Zealand batters faced the Indian bowlers with much more comfort on the same track. Devon Conway handed the Kiwis the perfect start they wanted, New Zealand posted 180/3 at Stumps.

Next, the set batter Rachin Ravindra, New Zealand’s wonderkind when it comes to batting on Indian and subcontinent tracks, and alongside him Mitchell came into bat. After early strikes from Siraj, Bumrah, and Jadeja, New Zealand again found their rhythm, with Ravindra building on a huge 135-run partnership with former skipper Tim Southee.

Southee 65 and Ravindra 134 handed New Zealand the score of 402, which gave them a lead of 356.

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