Virat Kohli Shatters Records: Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar with Historic Century in Australia

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Virat Kohli Shatters Records

New Delhi: Batting maestro Virat Kohli etched his name in history once again by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian batter on Australian soil. Kohli achieved this monumental feat during the ongoing first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Sunday, November 24. The century marks his 30th Test ton and his seventh in Australia, setting a new benchmark for Indian batsmanship Down Under.

The Record-Breaking Moment

Kohli brought up his century in spectacular fashion, striking a boundary off Marnus Labuschagne in the 135th over of India’s second innings. Facing 143 deliveries, Kohli’s knock included 8 fours and 2 sixes, showcasing his trademark elegance and aggression. His unbeaten partnership of 77 runs with debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (38 off 27 balls) propelled India to declare their innings at 487 for 6, leaving Australia a mammoth target of 534 runs to chase.

India’s Best in Australia: Kohli Tops the List

With this century, Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s six Test centuries in Australia, achieving the milestone in just 14 matches. The updated list of Indian batters with the most Test centuries in Australia now stands as follows:

  1. Virat Kohli – 7
  2. Sachin Tendulkar – 6
  3. Sunil Gavaskar – 5
  4. VVS Laxman – 4
  5. Cheteshwar Pujara – 3

Kohli Equals Ricky Ponting’s India-Australia Record

Kohli’s historic knock also brought him level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting for the most Test centuries in matches between India and Australia in Australia.

Climbing the Ranks in India-Australia Rivalry

Kohli’s latest ton catapulted him past Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara to claim fourth place on the all-time list of highest run-scorers in India-Australia Tests. The list now reads:

  1. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) – 3630 runs
  2. Ricky Ponting (AUS) – 2555 runs
  3. VVS Laxman (IND) – 2434 runs
  4. Virat Kohli (IND) – 2147 runs
  5. Rahul Dravid (IND) – 2143 runs

A Love Affair with Perth

This century is Kohli’s second at Optus Stadium, following his memorable 123-run knock during the December 2018 Test at the same venue. Notably, Kohli is the only Indian batter to score two centuries in Perth, a testament to his adaptability and skill on challenging pitches.

Virat Kohli Shatters Records

The Bigger Picture

Kohli’s last Test century before this came against the West Indies during the second Test in Port of Spain in July 2024. His remarkable performance in Perth further cements his legacy as one of the greatest batters in cricket history.

As Kohli continues to rewrite records, his dominance in Australia underscores his status as a global cricket icon, carrying forward the legacy of Indian greats while setting new standards for the next generation.

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