Team India's talismanic batter Virat Kohli has added another feather to his cap in the ongoing first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday, December 28.
Kohli has shattered former Sri Lanka batter Kumar Sangakkara's record for scoring the most 2000 international runs in a calendar year. The 35-year-old achieved 2000 runs in a calendar for a record seventh time in his illustrious career, surpassing Sangakkara's six times to achieving the feat.
Most 2000 runs in a calendar year
Virat Kohli - 7*
Kumar Sangakkara - 6
Mahela Jayawardene - 5
Sachin Tendulkar - 5
Jacques Kallis - 4
Virat Kohli achieved this feat during India's second innings batting on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at Centurion.
Kohli first achieved the feat of completing 2000 international runs in a calendar year was in 2012, becoming the sixth Indian batter to do so. Thereafter, former India captain did it in five different calendar years in 2014, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019 before accomplishing similar milestone in 2023.
Virat Kohli currently holds the record for the most international runs by an Indian batter in a calendar year, aggregating 2818 runs, including 11 centuries and 10 half-centuries, at an average of 68.73 in 46 matches in 2017.
Virat Kohli takes charge of India's batting on Day 3
Virat Kohli is currently at the helm of India's second innings batting on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at Centurion.
After bundling out South Africa for 408, India lost an early wicket in skipper Rohit for a duck, dismissed by Kagiso Rabada at 5/1. Then, Test debutant Nandre Burger sent Yashasvi Jaiswal back to pavilion for 5 at 13/2.
Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli steadied India's batting after two early wickets. The pair was looking to form a good partnership until former was dismissed for 26 by Marco Jansen at 52/3.
Gill's dismissal, Shreyas Iyer was joined Kohli at the crease. However, Iyer failed to deliver when needed as he was dismissed for 6 by Marco Jansen at 76/4.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is waging lone battle and brought up his 30th Test fifty in 62 balls.
