Kohli set to better Sachin, Dravid marks

NOTTINGHAM: On the eve of the Trent Bridge Test, Virat Kohli was asked if Indian batting careers were at stake. “About me?” he enquired a touch incredulously, before the question was put to him again, explaining it was about those who had failed, leaving the visitors 2-0 down in the series.

India had been pretty much about their skipper in the last few seasons, especially since the start of 2018 when they began the first of three tough overseas assignments in South Africa. Kohli banished questions about his poor England record in 2014 with a 149 in the first Test at Edgbaston, though as skipper he needed the other batsmen to join the party.

Trent Bridge witnessed that turnaround. On Monday, Kohli struck his 23rd century, which could have been the 24thbut he was out for 97 in the first innings. Unlike Edgbaston though, he had ensured he had wingmen in both innings, putting India on course for a turnaround win.

Kohli is six runs short of 6,000 career runs. If he reaches the mark in the first innings of the fourth Test in Southampton, he would have done it in 119 innings. That would better Sachin Tendulkar’s mark (120 innings). However, only Tendulkar has got to the milestone before turning 27. Sunil Gavaskar holds the Indian record (117 innings) and Don Bradman the overall mark (68 innings).

Kohli can also surpass Rahul Dravid’s Indian record of 602 in an England series and three centuries (2002, 2011). The all-time record is four (Bradman, Herbert Sutcliffe, Denis Compton).

It was a different version of Kohli. In Edgbaston, he withstood a battle with England spearhead James Anderson. Though he won that duel, and bowlers delivered 20 wickets for the fourth overseas Test in a row, other batsmen flopped.

In Trent Bridge though, Kohli batted as an equal partner, with Ajinkya Rahane in the first innings and Cheteshwar Pujara in the second. Both needed assurance going into the match, not sure about their form or role, and they were lifted by their knocks.

In the first innings, Rahane’s 81, and his 159-run partnership with Kohli, helped overcome the vice-captain’s batting blues. When Rahane was out, Kohli was only on 75.

When Pujara, who took his time on the third morning as the pair consolidated, fell on 72, the skipper was on 68.

Kohli, who recovered from a stiff back to play at Trent Bridge, batted almost six hours (293 minutes) in the second innings. His fifty-to-century conversion rate – 23 tons to 17 fifties – is sensational, though a strike rate of around 50 in the innings, well below his career mark, underlined his fresh team plan.

By the time the India skipper left to a standing ovation from the packed crowd, he knew he had accomplished two objectives – setting the tone for a huge victory with two days left and nursing India’s batting to health overseas.