Stats: Virat Kohli completes 100 catches in Test cricket, joins elite list

The wait for Virat Kohli’s 71st international hundred might not have ended in the ongoing third Test against South Africa. However, the Indian skipper managed to complete a unique century in the clash. Kohli completed 100 catches in the longest format of the game to enter an elite list of fielders in the country. He became only the sixth Indian to get the milestone.

Kohli got the landmark in style as he dived to his left to take the low catch off Mohammed Shami’s bowling. Temba Bavuma was the dismissed batter as he edged an  outswinging delivery to the slip cordon. Notably, Kohli’s catch also saw the end of a stubborn 47-run stand between Bavuma and Keegan Petersen.

Meanwhile, Kohli got the milestone in his 99th Test match. Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar and Mohammad Azharuddin are the other Indians to have taken 100 or more catches in Test cricket.

Most caches (outfield) for India in Tests:

Meanwhile, stakes are incredibly high in the game with the series being perfectly poised at 1-1 after the first two games. India are eyeing their maiden Test series win in the rainbow nation and the Proteas side is fighting to avoid the same. Electing to bat first at the venue, Indian batters endured a hard time as wickets fell at regular intervals.

However, the skipper stood out in the crucial contest and slammed a brilliant 79 on a challenging Wanderers track. His efforts helped India post a respectable total on the board. The baton was then passed onto Indian bowlers and they didn’t disappoint. Jasprit Bumrah took a five-fer as the hosts got bundled out for just 209 runs, giving India a 14-run lead.

As South Africa will need to bat last on this surface, India would be happy with the proceedings so far. However, a plenty of time is left in the game and Dean Elgar’s men would back themselves to bounceback. Not to forget, the hosts chased down 240 in the preecding Johannesburg Test.