Virat Kohli creates history in Adelaide Test, India in a dominant position against Australia

Virat Kohli has acquired a reputation as a record-breaking machine in all formats of the game. The Indian cricket skipper has broken plenty of records in ODIs in 2018. In Tests, he created yet another slice of history at his favourite Adelaide Oval venue when he reached a special milestone on day 3 of the Test against Australia. On the third ball of the 32^nd over, Kohli nudged Nathan Lyon to the leg side and took a quick single to become only the fourth Indian player after VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar to reach 1000 runs in Tests in Australia. Tendulkar is the leading run-getter with 1809 runs at an average of 54. Laxman has 1236 runs with an average of 44 while Dravid has 1143 runs with an average of 43.

Kohli has a magnificent record in Tests Down Under. Out of all the four players, the Indian skipper’s average of 58 is the best among all the three. The dashing right-hander has also smashed five centuries, which is the second-most behind Tendulkar who has hit six centuries. While Tendulkar took 20 Tests to hit six centuries, Kohli has achieved the distinction in just nine Tests.

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The India cricket team skipper has enjoyed playing in Australia. In the 2014/15 series, he blasted 692 runs at an average of 86 with four centuries, including two in one Test in Adelaide. His first international century also came at the Adelaide Oval in 2012 in the series which India were whitewashed 0-4.

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On the other hand, Tendulkar smashed centuries in 1992, 1999, 2003/04 and 2007/08 series against Australia. The former India batsman smashed 148 and 114 in Sydney and Perth in 1991/92 and blasted 116 in the Melbourne game in 1999. In 2003/04, after a lean run in the first three Tests, Tendulkar responded with 241* in the Sydney game and in 2007, he was at his absolute best by smashing 154 and 153 in Sydney and Adelaide.

Laxman has also tormented Australia Down Under, smashing three centuries in Sydney and one in Adelaide. His 167 in 1999 at the SCG established him as a great cricketer while his knock of 148 and his 303-run stand with Rahul Dravid in Adelaide helped India win a Test in Australia after 22 years. His 178 and 109 in two Sydney Tests in 2004 and 2008 showed his class.

Dravid, on the other hand, scored his first and only century when he hammered 233 in Adelaide in 22 years. His tally of 619 runs at an average of 123 was the best by an Indian batsman in Australia. However, Kohli beat that mark in 2014/15.