NEW DELHI:
Virat Kohli, who last year broke
Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most centuries in ODIs, is set to break another all-time record held by the 'Little Master.' This achievement is no less significant, as it further cements a player among the legends of the game.
Cricket not only tests a player's skill but also their temperament, dedication, and composure. When we think of these qualities in a batter, names like Sachin Tendulkar,
Ricky Ponting, and
Kumar Sangakkara come to mind among the modern day greats.
Determining the greatest batter of all time is a subject of debate. Some believe the key is the number of centuries a player scores, while others consider crucial match-winning innings as the benchmark. Another perspective suggests that the ability to face the most balls to draw a Test match is a significant measure.
One such parameter is total runs scored. All three of the aforementioned legends share a common trait: they are the top three leading run scorers in international cricket, each with over 27,000 runs. Tendulkar leads with an astounding 34,357 runs.
Virat Kohli, India's current batting sensation who has already won all three white-ball ICC tournaments, is on the verge of joining these all-time greats. Despite his many achievements, Kohli's relentless drive to succeed pushes him toward yet another milestone.
In the upcoming India vs. Bangladesh Test series in the World Test Championship, Kohli needs just 58 runs to become the fastest player in the world to reach 27,000 international runs.
Currently, Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for reaching 27,000 runs the fastest, achieving the feat in 623 innings (226 Test innings, 396 ODI innings, and 1 T20I innings).
Kohli, on the other hand, has played a total of 591 innings across all formats, scoring 26,942 runs so far.
As Kohli inches closer to the 27,000-run milestone, with only 58 runs separating him from this remarkable achievement, cricket enthusiasts are filled with anticipation. They hope to witness the star Indian batsman reach this landmark swiftly, preferably before his 600th innings.