Stats: Centuries by Indian captains at home ground in international cricket

Virat Kohli scored 20th Test century of his career as he remained unbeaten on 156 on the first day of the ongoing Test match at his home ground. This was his first game in whites in Delhi and the skipper celebrated the occasion in style. He is looking good for more and might well notch up his second consecutive double century. However, Kohli also entered into the elite list of the Indian captains who managed to score a ton at their home venue.

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi leads the charts as he was the first captain to smash a century in Delhi in 1964 against England. He backed it up with another one next year against New Zealand as he used to enjoy batting at Ferozshah Kotla. Another legend Sunil Gavaskar is the next on this list with two centuries in Mumbai. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar also loved batting in the city where he was born and has scored a century twice in 1996 and 1997 while he led the Indian troops on the field across both ODI and Test formats.

Centuries by Indian captains at home

MAK Pataudi was born in Madhya Pradesh but was representing Delhi between 1960/61 and 1965/66.

Virat Kohli, however, has become the fourth captain to hit an international century at his home venue in Delhi at Ferozshah Kotla Stadium. He was excellent throughout his knock and hardly mistimed any delivery out of 186 which he faced on the 22 yards. He hardly broke a sweat in his 70-overs stay in the middle and hasn’t finished business yet.

Can the skipper reach 300?

The way Virat is playing currently, there is no one stopping him as Sri Lankan bowlers have looked hapless in front of him. He can only be sent back to the pavilion by his own mistake which he normally doesn’t commit or if India declares. He has a golden chance to become only the third Indian skipper to smash a double century at the home ground. Pataudi and Gavaskar have done it previously and no other player has managed to do it since last 38 years.

Also, he is in such a sublime touch, he could well score an elusive triple hundred as there is a lot of time left in the Test match. Rohit Sharma, the proper batsman is with him unbeaten at the crease and both of them could make merry of the bowling attack which is looking toothless. If Virat Kohli manages to reach the 300-run mark on Sunday, more records will be shattered as the juggernaut of the captain courageous with the bat will continue to reach greater heights.