The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced India’s squad for the upcoming first Test match against Bangladesh, which will be held from September 19 to 23 at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. One of the key highlights of the squad is the return of star batter Virat Kohli, who had missed India’s last red-ball series against England.
Kohli’s inclusion in the squad has generated excitement among fans, as they are eager to see him back in action. Additionally, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will also make his comeback to the squad after playing a pivotal role in India’s recent triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup held in Barbados.
Kohli, currently enjoying time with his family in London, last featured in a Test match against South Africa in January 2024 at Cape Town. Throughout his illustrious career, Kohli has played 113 Test matches, amassing an impressive total of 8,848 runs, including a highest score of 254 not out. As he gears up for the upcoming series, there are several milestones within his reach that could further cement his legacy in the longest format of the game.
- Don Bradman’s record of centuries
One of the most notable records Kohli can break is surpassing the legendary Don Bradman’s record of 29 Test centuries. Kohli, who has already scored 29 centuries, is just one century away from breaking Bradman’s record and joining the elite group of cricketers, including Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Matthew Hayden, both of whom have 30 Test centuries to their names.
2. Completing 9000 Test runs
In addition to chasing this century milestone, Kohli is also on the verge of another significant achievement—reaching 9,000 Test runs. Currently, he needs just 152 more runs to achieve this feat. If successful, Kohli will also surpass former England cricketer Graham Gooch’s total of 8,900 Test runs.
Interestingly, despite Kohli’s impressive overall Test career, he has yet to score a fifty in his nine Test appearances against Bangladesh. This series presents a golden opportunity for him to break that streak. Furthermore, Kohli is just 32 runs away from overtaking Cheteshwar Pujara’s total of 468 runs to become India’s leading run-scorer in Test matches against Bangladesh. With several records on the line, Kohli’s performance in the upcoming series is highly anticipated by cricket fans worldwide.
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