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Virat Kohli has already retired from T20Is and it means that fans will get to see the 35-year-old star in only two formats – Tests and ODIs. All eyes will be on Virat Kohli as the Indian cricket team faces Bangladesh in the upcoming Test series starting September 19. With Kohli having retired from T20 Internationals, fans will now see him exclusively in Tests and ODIs. While comparisons between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar are common, Kohli has always acknowledged Tendulkar unparalleled achievements. Kohli has amassed 80 international centuries, just shy of Tendulkar record of 100.
In the forthcoming Bangladesh Test series, Kohli has the chance to set a new world record in international cricket. He needs just 58 runs to become the first player to reach 27,000 international runs in fewer than 600 innings. Tendulkar currently holds the record, having achieved 27,000 runs in 623 innings (226 Test innings, 396 ODI innings and 1 T20I inning). Kohli, who has played 591 innings and scored 26,942 runs so far, looks poised to surpass this milestone.
Currently, only Tendulkar, Australia Ricky Ponting, and Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara have accumulated over 27,000 runs in international cricket. In other news, there potential for the revival of the Afro-Asia Cup, which could pave the way for exciting matchups like Virat Kohli partnering with Babar Azam or Shaheen Afridi bowling alongside Jasprit Bumrah. According to a Forbes report, discussions are underway regarding the tournament revival. Ex-African Cricket Association chair Sumod Damodar expressed regret over the previous lack of momentum and understanding regarding the Afro-Asia Cup. He noted that there is now a renewed interest in reviving the tournament, which could be beneficial for the cricketing community.
Virat Kohli On Cusp Of History
As Virat Kohli prepares to play Test cricket for the first time since January, he stands on the brink of several significant records. The 35-year-old is just 58 runs away from reaching 27,000 runs in international cricket. Achieving this milestone would make Kohli the fastest player to do so, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s current record.
Should Kohli accomplish this feat, he will join an elite group of only three other players—Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara and Ricky Ponting—who have reached the 27,000-run mark. Kohli has already set records for being the fastest to achieve 16,000 through to 26,000 runs in international cricket.
In addition to this, Kohli needs just 152 more runs to become the fourth Indian player to accumulate 9,000 runs in Test cricket. He would be the first Indian debutant of the 21st century to reach this milestone. If he reaches this mark in the upcoming series, he will share the record with Sunil Gavaskar, who achieved this in 192 innings, whereas Kohli has batted 191 times in Test cricket so far.
Most Runs In International Cricket
| Player | Innings | Runs |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 782 | 34357 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 666 | 28017 |
| Ricky Ponting | 668 | 27483 |
| Virat Kohli | 591 | 26942 |
Virat Kohli To Partner Babar Azam For Same Team In This Tournament? Top Official Big Statement
The Afro-Asia Cup, a series of charity matches held in the mid-2000s, featured thrilling contests between teams representing Asia and Africa. The inaugural Afro-Asia Cup took place in 2005, followed by a second edition in 2007. The Asian XI boasted stars such as Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Zaheer Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Anil Kumble and Shahid Afridi. On the other hand, the African XI included prominent players like Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Tatenda Taibu.
Recent discussions suggest that there may be a revival of the Afro-Asia Cup. According to a Forbes report, the possibility of bringing back the tournament is under consideration. Former African Cricket Association chair Sumod Damodar expressed disappointment over the previous discontinuation of the event. He cited a lack of momentum and understanding from the African side as reasons for the tournament demise. Damodar emphasized that there is now a renewed effort to push for its revival, as the concept is seen as valuable for bridging cricketing cultures.
If the Afro-Asia Cup does return, it could lead to exciting collaborations such as Virat Kohli teaming up with Babar Azam or Shaheen Afridi bowling alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Such partnerships could showcase some of the best talent in cricket and provide a platform for international stars to play together.
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan was held in 2012-13 and the two teams have not faced each other in Test matches since 2007. Damodar believes that resuming the Afro-Asia Cup could serve as a positive force, potentially breaking down political barriers and fostering camaraderie among players from different nations. He expressed confidence that cricketers would be enthusiastic about participating in such an event, viewing it as an opportunity to build connections rather than perpetuate conflicts.
In 2022, discussions about reviving the tournament involved key figures such as Jay Shah, the chair of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Mahinda Vallipuram, the ACC head of development. Vallipuram, who was recently re-elected to the ICC board and Shah, who leads the ICC are seen as pivotal in advancing this initiative. Damodar noted that with these influential figures advocating for the tournament return, there is hope that the necessary momentum and support will materialize to bring the Afro-Asia Cup back to the forefront of international cricket.
Steve Smith Says Virat Kohli Is Australian. Explains Why
Veteran batter Steve Smith described Virat Kohli approach on the field in a unique way, saying the Indian batting stalwart is Australian in his thoughts and action. Veteran Australian cricketer Steve Smith has praised Virat Kohli approach on the field, describing the Indian batting superstar as having an “Australian” mindset and demeanor. Ahead of the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will feature a five-match series across Perth, Adelaide (a pink-ball Test), Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, Smith reflected on Kohli competitive spirit. India has triumphed in the last two editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, during the 2018/19 and 2020/21 series.
In a video shared by Star Sports on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Smith commented, “I believe Virat Kohli is Australian in thoughts and action. The way he gets into a battle, the way he embraces challenges and seeks to dominate the opposition. He is a probably the most Australian of the Indian players, I’d say. Kohli boasts 80 international centuries, including 29 in Test matches and has accumulated 8,846 runs from 113 Tests at an average of 49.16. Smith, on the other hand, has scored 9,685 runs in 109 Tests at an average of 56.97, with 32 centuries to his name.
Smith emphasized that his focus is not on competing personally with Kohli but on contributing to Australia success. There is a no real need to beat him or anything like that. It’s about going out, playing well and trying to score as many runs as I can to help Australia succeed,” Smith said. He also shared that he and Kohli stay in touch and look forward to facing each other again. We get on quite well, share messages every now and then. He is a great player and obviously a wonderful player. I’m excited to come up against him this summer,” Smith added.
