Another Milestone Unlocked! Virat Kohli Joins Elite 9,000-Run Club In Tests With Stellar Knock

October 18, 2024: Virat Kohli etched his name further into the annals of cricketing history by crossing the 9,000-run mark in Test cricket during a fluent knock of 70 on day three of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Kohli bounced back in the second, batting at No. 3 for just the second time in this match — a position he hadn’t occupied since 2016.

With this innings, Kohli needed 53 runs to reach the coveted milestone and accomplished it with a composed display, bringing up his half-century off just 70 balls. His innings featured five boundaries and a memorable six off New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel. Kohli’s determination showed in his ability to accumulate the additional three runs to join the exclusive 9,000-run club, achieving this in his 197th Test innings.

In doing so, Kohli became the 18th player in cricket history to score 9,000 runs in Tests, joining contemporaries Joe Root and Steve Smith as the only active players in the club. He also became the fourth Indian to reach this mark, following legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.

Though Kohli reached the milestone in his 197th innings, making him the slowest among Indian cricketers to do so, it highlights the consistency he’s maintained over his illustrious career. Dravid achieved it in 174 innings, Tendulkar in 179, and Gavaskar in 192. Kumar Sangakkara remains the fastest to reach 9,000 runs, achieving it in just 172 innings.

Kohli’s next target on the all-time run-scorers list is South Africa’s Graeme Smith, who is just over 200 runs ahead. Kohli is also within striking distance of Sunil Gavaskar’s record as India’s third-highest run-getter, needing another 1,100 runs to surpass the legendary opener. With upcoming Tests against New Zealand and a highly anticipated series against Australia, Kohli is poised to continue his rise in the rankings.