What is Virat Kohli's record in Test cricket at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune?
Senior Team India batter Virat Kohli will be keen to come up with a big score when the hosts face New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune in the second Test starting Thursday, October 24. With India 1-0 down in the three-match series, the hosts will need their big names to stand up and be counted in the must-win clash in Pune.
Kohli was one of the five Indian batters dismissed for a duck in the first innings against the Kiwis in Bengaluru. He contributed a defiant 70 off 102 in the second innings, hitting eight fours and a six. However, his dismissal on the last ball of Day 3 proved to be a major setback for the hosts.
Looking at Kohli's Test record at the MCA Stadium in Pune, he has played two matches at the venue, scoring 267 runs. The right-handed batter was dismissed for 0 & 13 in the first Test he played at the venue against Australia in February 2017. He nicked Mitchell Starc to first slip in the first innings and was bowled by Steve O'Keefe in the second as Australia won the Test by 333 runs.
Kohli's second Test in Pune was against South Africa in October 2019. On this occasion, he notched up his career-best Test score of 254* as India thumped the Proteas by an innings and 137 runs. The batter struck 33 fours and two sixes in his 336-ball knock as the hosts put up 601-5 declared batting first. In response, South Africa registered scores of 275 & 189 (following on).
Virat Kohli's record in white-ball cricket at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune
Apart from Test matches, Kohli has featured in eight one-dayers in Pune and has a terrific record, scoring 551 runs at an average of 78.71, with three centuries and an equal number of half-centuries.
The 35-year-old scored 122 off 105 balls against England in Pune in January 2017, 107 off 119 against West Indies in October 2018, and 103* off 97 balls in the 2023 World Cup league match against Bangladesh. Further, Kohli has played two T20Is in Pune. The right-hander scored 21 off 17 against England in December 2012 and 26 off 17 against the same opponent in January 2020.