Star batsman Virat Kohli surpassed cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to become India’s highest run-scorer in South Africa across all formats. The momentous feat occurred during the Boxing Day Test between South Africa and India in Centurion, marking another milestone in Kohli’s illustrious career.
On Day 3 of the first Test at SuperSport Park, Kohli surpassed Tendulkar’s previous record of 1724 runs. Despite facing early challenges in the match, Kohli’s resilience shone through as he anchored the Indian innings.
In the first innings, Kohli faced disappointment with a score of 38, but he quickly bounced back in the second innings. Despite India losing early wickets and trailing the Proteas by 91 runs, Kohli demonstrated his experience and composure.
Notably, Kohli’s stellar performance in the second innings saw him surpass Tendulkar’s overall tally of 1724 runs in South Africa. His statistics now stand at 1750* runs in 29 matches, with an impressive five centuries.
During his innings, Kohli showcased his ability to handle pressure and capitalize on opportunities. After being dropped early in his innings, he focused on capitalizing on loose deliveries. His strategic approach paid off, as he steadily accumulated runs and guided India towards a respectable total.
The significance of Kohli’s achievement is highlighted by the historical context of Indian batsmen in South Africa. The updated list of most runs for India in South Africa across all formats now stands as follows:
- Virat Kohli – 1750* runs in 29 matches – 5 hundreds
- Sachin Tendulkar – 1724 runs in 38 matches – 6 hundreds
- Rahul Dravid – 1136 runs in 22 matches – 1 hundred
- Sourav Ganguly – 897 runs in 17 matches – 1 hundred
- MS Dhoni – 872 runs in 32 matches – No hundreds
Kohli maintains a sensational average of over 50 in South Africa across all formats. His dominance even extends to ODIs, where he leads the Indian batting charts with 898 runs at an average of 74.83.
In the second innings of the match, Kohli continued to be the lone warrior for India, reaching his 30th Test fifty. Despite the challenges and the loss of wickets, Kohli’s contribution remained invaluable. He was the last batter to be dismissed, with India losing the game by an innings and 32 runs.
He scored 76 runs off 82 balls, laced with 12 fours and 1 six.
