Team India star batter Virat Kohli achieved a significant milestone during the third day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 opener against Australia. Virat Kohli moved to second place in the elite list of Asian batters following his half-century in India’s second innings on Sunday, November 24.
Virat Kohli Moves to Second Place in Elite List of Asian Batters
Virat Kohli, who started playing Test cricket against Australia in 2011, scored his 11th fifty-plus score in the country. He equaled legendary Pakistan batter Zaheer Abbas on the list of most fifty-plus scores by Asian batters in Australia. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar leads the list with 13 fifty-plus scores.
The India national cricket team will play four matches in the ongoing Australia tour. Virat will have a chance to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record in the upcoming matches. It is worth mentioning it might be Virat’s last Test tour in Australia. He has scored six centuries and five half-centuries in the country.
Most 50+ Scores in Australia by Asians in Test Cricket History:
| Player | Team | 50+ Scores |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 13 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 11 |
| Zaheer Abbas | Pakistan | 11 |
| Javed Miandad | Pakistan | 9 |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | India | 8 |
| VVS Laxman | India | 8 |
Virat Kohli Becomes Seventh Batter to Complete 2000 Runs in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Virat Kohli needed 21 runs to complete 2000 runs against Australia in Test cricket. He achieved the milestone during the second innings after scoring 16 runs. The right-handed batter became the seventh batter and fifth Indian to reach the landmark.
Most Runs in Border-Gavaskar Trophy:
| Player | Team | Runs | Innings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 3,262 | 65 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 2,555 | 51 |
| VVS Laxman | India | 2,434 | 54 |
| Rahul Dravid | India | 2,143 | 60 |
| Michael Clarke | Australia | 2,049 | 40 |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | India | 2,033 | 43 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 2,024 | 44* |
The 36-year-old batter, who hasn’t been in great form in Test cricket of late, will aim for this innings to reignite his career. This performance could play a crucial role in regaining his form in the longer format of the game.
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a brilliant 161 in India’s second innings. He was dismissed by Mitchell Marsh during the afternoon session. At tea on Day 3, India stood at 359/5, with Virat Kohli (40*) and Washington Sundar (14*) at the crease. Kohli reached his half-century mark in the final session on Day 3.
The home team crossed the 470-run lead in the second innings. However, there were no signs of declaration from the Indian captain, Jasprit Bumrah. There are two more days left in the match, which will play a crucial role in the declaration.
Also read: Yashasvi Jaiswal placed on Sachin Tendulkar’s pedestal by Ex-Australian Head Coach