IND vs AUS 2023: Virat Kohli scales impressive milestone; eclipses Sachin Tendulkar’s world record

Flamboyant team India batter Virat Kohli scaled an impressive record as he got to 25,000 runs across all formats in their dominant win in the second Test against Australia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Adding to this, Kohli eclipsed India legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record as the former became the quickest to attain the historic milestone in international cricket.

While chasing a meagre 115 runs set by the Aussies, Kohli amassed 20 runs from 31 balls, and in doing so, the swashbuckling right-hander breached the 25,000-run mark in 549 innings. His idol, Tendulkar, attained the same feat in 577 innings, whereas Australia great Ricky Ponting and former Proteas all-rounder Jacques Kallis achieved the milestone in 588 and 594 matches across the three formats. 

India retain Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Pat Cummins-led Australia began Day 3 with a 62-run lead. However, the visitors swiftly lost wickets after spin duo Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja outfoxed the rival batting unit. Jadeja relished a phenomenal outing as he returned a seven-wicket haul which is also his career-best performance with the ball. Meanwhile, Ashwin got three wickets under his belt to restrict the rival side to just 113 runs and now has the second-most wickets (103) in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In India’s hunt for 115 runs, the home side lost opener KL Rahul early as he was sent packing for just one run whereas skipper Rohit scored a quickfire 31 off 20 balls before heading back to the dugout. Pujara, who played his 100^th Test in Delhi against the Aussies, took the onus along with keeper-batter Srikar Bharat to steer the side to clinch the contest.

Pujara’s delicate 74-ball 31 included four boundaries, while Bharat swiftly got 23 from 22 balls and remained unbeaten in India’s win. Having clinched the second game, Rohit Sharma and Co. have successfully retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Notably, the Aussies have been unable to win a series on Indian soil since the 2004/05 season. Meanwhile, team India is just one Test win away from cementing their berth in the summit clash of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle.