New Delhi:
Virat Kohli has enjoyed a record-breaking time in the Pune Test against South Africa at the MCA Stadium. He is captaining India in his 50th Test, making him the second after MS Dhoni to achieve the feat. On day 2, he scored his 26th Test century and 19th as skipper as he levelled Ricky Ponting's record for centuries as captain. However, in the second session, Kohli added one more feather to his cap by achieving yet another milestone against South Africa. His century was the third against the Proteas but it was his first in India. His previous highest was 88 during the Delhi Test in 2015.
When he edged Keshav Maharaj for two fours in one over, Kohli notched up his 150. Kohli then edged Maharaj for the third time in two overs and he found the third man boundary. That four took him past his previous highest score against South Africa which was 153 which he achieved during the 2018 Centurion Test.
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Earlier, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane had weathered the storm on an overcast evening session on day 1 but Kohli showed his mettle to negotiate the bowling. He notched up his fifty with two boundaries off Vernon Philander as he remained unbeaten on 63. Resuming on day 2, Kohli had his fair share of luck. He edged a full ball from Philander but it just flew past Quinton de Kock for a boundary. Kohli, though, had no problems negotiating the nervous 90s as he notched up a magnificent century by straight driving Philander to the long on fence for a glorious boundary.
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As the session progressed and the partnership went past 100, Kohli still had some luck going his way. He withstood a testing spell from Anrich Nortje who induced the outside edge yet again but the ball went past the slips. However, Rahane was looking in great touch as he smoked a couple of boundaries and neared his fifty. The Mumbai right-hander was the first to reach his fifty when he cracked a four off Keshav Maharaj and notched up his 20th fifty.
This was Kohli's 10th 150+ score and all of them have come as captain. Kohli is the only skipper in history to have scored 40 tons as skipper across all formats. In fact, Kohli has hit six double tons in Test cricket and all have come as captain of the side, making him the only skipper to achieve this feat and breaking Brian Lara's record of five. As captain, Kohli averages 63 and at home, his average is close to 68. He has 12 tons in India while overseas, he has 14 centuries.
Kohli will now be aiming to register his seventh double ton in Tests and create more history as India reach a position of strength in the Pune Test.
