Happy Birthday Virat Kohli: 5 records that the Team India star can still break
Virat Kohli, the superstar and among the world's most iconic cricketers, turns 36 on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The former India skipper is known for breaking and creating records, which has been a hallmark of his already illustrious career throughout the years.
With his incredible and consistent performances over several years all around the globe, Kohli has established himself as one of the best in the business and is also regarded among the modern-day greats.
His career has been defined by immense hard work, grit, and determination, which has allowed him to stay at the top of his game for remarkable periods. Although his form has been inconsistent in the recent past, particularly in Test cricket, where he is going through a lean patch, there is still enough cricket left in Virat Kohli.
Having broken several records already in his career, as he is in the final phase, there are still a number of records that the star Indian batter can break before he walks away from international cricket.
On the occasion of his 36th birthday, here are five records that Virat Kohli can still break and add to his already glorious cricketing career.
Happy Birthday Virat Kohli: 5 records that the Team India star can still break
#5 India's highest run-scorer in Tests against England
More often than not, Virat Kohli has always shown up against big teams in his career, with successful records against the likes of Australia, England, and South Africa among others.
In Test cricket against England, Virat Kohli has 1991 runs from 28 matches. At present, Sachin Tendulkar has the most number of runs against England by an Indian batter in Test cricket with a tally of 2535.
India will play England in five Tests in 2025, where Virat will need 544 runs to break this record. Although scoring as many runs, given his current form in the format, may seem practically difficult, it is not theoretically impossible.
#4 Only Indian batter with 4000 runs against England in international cricket (all formats)
Speaking of England, there is another record that Virat Kohli can still break. The former Indian skipper has scored 3979 runs against England in international cricket (all formats combined).
No Indian batter has achieved the feat of scoring 4000 runs against England in international cricket across all formats. Kohli is just 21 runs away from doing so and given India are set to tour England in 2025, this record seems highly possible for the star Indian batter to break.
#3 Batter with most international hundreds at home
Another record currently held by Sachin Tendulkar is that of being the batter with the most number of international centuries at home. Tendulkar has scored 42 international hundreds at home in his career.
Tendulkar displayed his ability to score runs overseas but also ensured that he dominated at home. Similarly, Kohli has scored plenty of runs and centuries both away and at home. Kohli currently has 38 international hundreds at home and needs just five more to overtake Sachin and break this record.
#2 Indian batter with most Test hundreds against Australia
Throughout his career, Australia has been among Kohli's favorite oppositions. Playing against Australia has brought out the best in him and his love affair with them is widely known.
Sachin Tendulkar, at the moment, is the Indian batter with the most Test hundreds against Australia, having scored 11 centuries against them in the format. However, with eight Test hundreds against Australia, Virat Kohli is not too far away.
With the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Kohli has an opportunity to break this record as he needs four more Test tons against Australia.
#1 Fastest batter to 14,000 ODI runs
Virat Kohli is arguably one of the greatest batters at present when it comes to One-Day Internationals (ODI). He has been a consistent run-getter in the format, having amassed 13906 runs already in his career so far.
These runs have come in 295 matches and he is only 94 runs away from breaching the 14,000 run-mark in ODI cricket. Virat also has the opportunity to become the fastest batter to do so.
Sachin Tendulkar currently holds the record for being the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in 350 matches. This is a record that Virat is most likely to break.