Team India’s star batsman Virat Kohli is reportedly considering retiring from Test cricket. As per reports, the 36-year-old has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his intentions.
However, BCCI has requested him to reconsider his decision. A final call is expected soon, possibly before the upcoming England tour. This news comes just days after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket via Instagram, declaring that he would now focus solely on ODIs.
Kohli’s illustrious Test career
Virat Kohli made his Test debut on June 20, 2011, against the West Indies. Since then, he has played 123 Tests for India, scoring 9,230 runs in 210 innings at an average of 46.85. His impressive red-ball record includes 30 centuries, 31 half-centuries, and 7 double centuries. His highest Test score is 254.
Three major records Kohli can attain in Tests
If Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket now, he will fall short of achieving three major milestones:
India’s second-highest century scorer in Tests: With 30 centuries, Kohli is currently fourth on the list of most Test centuries by an Indian. He is just four behind Sunil Gavaskar (34) and six behind Rahul Dravid (36).
List of Indian batters with most centuries in Test
Sachin Tendulkar – 51 centuries
Rahul Dravid – 36 centuries
Sunil Gavaskar – 34 centuries
Virat Kohli – 30 centuries (as of his last Test match)
Virender Sehwag – 23 centuries
10,000 Test Runs: Kohli is 770 runs away from becoming only the second Indian batter after Sachin Tendulkar to cross the 10,000-run mark in Tests.
Most double centuries by an Indian: Kohli has seven double centuries in Test cricket – most by an Indian player. Sachin is second in this list with 6 tons. In the all-time list of batters with most double Test centuries, Virat is tied with Wally Hammond – both have 7 double centuries. Two more double Test tons would move him into fourth place all-time, surpassing Hammond.
Most Double Centuries in Test Cricket (All-Time):
Don Bradman (Australia) – 12
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 11
Brian Lara (West Indies) – 9
Wally Hammond (England) – 7
Virat Kohli (India) – 7
