The records Virat Kohli could break in the India-England Test series
After making an early exit from the Australia-India Test series, Virat Kohli re-joins the Indian team ahead of the series against England for his first game of 2021. A look at the list of records and milestones he’s on the brink of claiming.
Kohli is currently the sixth-highest run-getter for India in Tests against England (1,570 runs). At home, he averages 70.25 against the English Test side, having topped the run-charts with 655 runs in the 2016 series.
Ahead of the 2021 series, which will be crucial in determining either team’s path to the World Test Championship final, Kohli is on the cusp of breaking a few records and breaching notable milestones.
Most international centuries as captain
Virat Kohli is currently tied with Ricky Ponting for the most centuries by a captain – 41. The Test series presents an opportunity for Kohli to move past the Australia legend and top the list. While Ponting took 376 innings to reach his tally, Kohli, so far, has played just 218 international innings.
Home Test record
While Kohli leads the list for the most Test wins by an Indian captain (33 wins in 56 matches), he’s on par with MS Dhoni (21 wins in 27 home Tests), his predecessor, for the most wins by an Indian captain at home. A win in the opening Test of the England series will move Kohli’s tally to 21 wins at home, and further victories in the series will see him overtake his former captain.
2021 begins with the home season for Virat Kohli.
He scored a century in India's last home game. How many hundreds do you think he'll score in the #INDvENG Test series? pic.twitter.com/2ptWyVwwRn
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) February 4, 2021
Most centuries by a captain in home Tests
Another impending record for Kohli could see him overtake Ricky Ponting in yet another list. Kohli currently has ten Test hundreds at home, tied with Greg Chappell and Steve Smith, with Ponting leading the chart with 11 centuries.
In terms of international centuries at home, Kohli is two centuries short of Ponting’s tally of 23 centuries (132 games). Kohli currently has 19 in 76. The next best is Steve Smith, with 14 centuries in 39 matches.
