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India's top 5 highest run-scorers in pink ball Tests ahead of 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test ft. Virat Kohli

Team India are all set to lock horns with Australia in a pink ball Test match in Adelaide from December 6-10. The visitors are coming off a dominating 295-run victory in the first Test in Perth and will look to continue their strong showing in a day-night outing.

So far, India have played four pink-ball Tests and hold a win-loss record of 3-1. Their three victories have come against Bangladesh, England, and Sri Lanka. Interestingly, they lost their only game against Australia at the same venue, which is hosting the second Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

On that note, let's take a look at the five highest run-scorers for India in pink-ball Tests.


#5 Cheteshwar Pujara – 98 runs

The Saurashtra batter ranks fifth on the list with 98 runs in three games. In India's first day-night Test against Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2019, Cheteshwar Pujara slammed 55 off 105 balls to play a part in India winning by an innings and 46 runs.

Then, he scored 43 off 160 in the first innings against Australia in Adelaide in 2020. However, he was dismissed for an eight-ball duck in the second innings, as India were bundled out for 36.

In his last appearance against England in 2021, Pujara was dismissed for a four-ball duck in Ahmedabad.


#4 Ajinkya Rahane – 100 runs

In 2019, Ajinkya Rahane scored a well-compiled knock of 51 against Bangladesh, as the Indian team took a 243-run lead in the first innings.

Acting as the stand-in skipper against Australia in Adelaide, Rahane displayed resistance by scoring 42 off 92 deliveries in the first innings. However, like other batters, he also failed to perform in the second innings, getting out for a duck, resulting in India's shattering loss.

The right-hander then returned with a knock of seven against England, which saw Axar Patel pick a total of 11 wickets and help India win by 10 wickets. In total, Rahane has 100 runs in three pink ball Tests.


#3 Shreyas Iyer - 159 runs

The right-hander sits third on the list with only a solitary day-night Test appearance against Sri Lanka in 2022 in Bengaluru.

After India opted to bat first, they were off to a mediocre start, losing four wickets inside the 100-run mark. However, Shreyas Iyer played an impactful knock of 92 runs to help India post a modest total of 252.

Then, Iyer got a fine platform from the top order, as he slammed 67 off 87 and paved the way for India to declare on 303/9 and eventually win by 238 runs.


#2 Rohit Sharma - 173 runs

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has garnered 173 runs in three pink ball Tests. Rohit's first appearance against Bangladesh saw him score 21 off 35, as India won the game easily.

Rohit played an impressive knock of 66 off 96 against England in the first innings, and then remained unbeaten on 25 to help the side win by 10 wickets.

Then, 'Hitman' returned with knocks of 15 and 46 against Sri Lanka and played a small part in India's convincing victory.


#1 Virat Kohli - 277 runs

Virat Kohli has the highest runs among Team India batters in pink-ball Tests heading into the Adelaide fixture. He has amassed 277 runs in six innings, with his top knock coming in only his first day-night Test appearance.

In response to Bangladesh's 106-run total, Kohli slammed 136 off 194, with 18 fours to eventually help the side secure a victory by an innings and 46 runs.

Kohli was the standout batter for India in the first innings in Adelaide with a 74-run knock, but he was dismissed for four in the second essay. The former Indian captain returned with a knock of 27 against England in 2021, and 23 & 13 against Sri Lanka in 2022.

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