IND vs AUS: Virat Can Surpass Sachin’s Record In 4th Test
Virat Kohli’s Chance of Surpassing Sachin Tendulkar in the Melbourne Test (IND vs AUS, 2024-25)
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series between IND vs AUS is going neck to neck for supremacy, with both nations fighting each other in a battle for supremacy in this game. With three matches already played, the series now heads into its fourth and final Test, set to take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), starting December 26, 2024. This match is not just crucial for the outcome of the series but also presents a golden opportunity for former Indian captain Virat Kohli to make history by breaking a special record held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Virat Kohli’s Chances to Overcome Tendulkar’s IND vs AUS MCG Record
As the fourth test at MCG approaches, Virat Kohli is at the threshold of doing something extraordinary. The legendary cricket batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, who is considered the best batsman in world cricket history, holds a record for most Indian runs scored in test matches at the Melbourne grounds. Tendulkar scored 449 runs from five Test matches at the MCG, with a match average of 44.90 and a strike rate of 58.69. He is the highest run-scoring batsman for India at this iconic venue.
But Virat Kohli hasn’t been too far behind. In the three test matches he has played so far at the MCG, Kohli has scored 316 runs, with his highest individual score being a record-making 169 runs. This makes him close to achieving Tendulkar’s record. If Kohli is able to score 134 runs for both innings of the Boxing Day Test, he will break the record and be the first Indian to achieve the highest runs scored in Tests at MCG.
Highest Run-Scorers for India at MCG in IND vs AUS
– Sachin Tendulkar: 449 runs in 5 matches, average 44.90
Virat Kohli 316 runs, in matches 3. best score of 169.
Although these statistics may make the record Kohli is looking at a historic one, this has been the venue of some of the greatest Indians to have left their mark, and Kohli has played just three matches here.
It may be that the Indian batsman has been the one in the shortest space of time to make an impact. This speaks of his phenomenal form during the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy:
Kohli’s current form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been a mixed bag. Though he has shown some brilliance in the second innings of the Perth Test by scoring a century, he has not been able to sustain his best performances throughout the series. In the first three Tests, Kohli has scored only 126 runs in 6 innings, with an average of 31.50. This includes a solid 100-run knock, but he has not been able to maintain consistency in the series so far.
The 2024 BGT series has proven to be a pretty tight competition for Kohli, as he’s been tested by pretty testing conditions and competitive bowling by the Australian attack. But in Melbourne, it may be a chance to redeem himself, and if he can find his rhythm at the MCG, he could end up not only contributing heavily to India’s fortunes in the fourth Test but also etching his name in history by surpassing one of the greatest players the game has ever known.
Looking Ahead to the IND vs AUS MCG Test
In a fiercely contested battle for Border-Gavaskar Trophy supremacy between IND vs AUS, the Melbourne Test has taken on an added importance. For Kohli, it’s the chance to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record at this iconic ground; that is a story cricket fans around the world would love to follow closely. On the weight of record and occasion, Kohli will surely feel the motivation to produce a memorable performance.
In addition to the personal milestone, Kohli’s performance at the MCG will be critical to India’s chances in the Test. With the series still in the balance, a big knock from one of India’s premier batsmen could have a significant impact on the result of the match.
As the Boxing Day Test approaches, everybody will be watching out for Virat Kohli to know if he can break into Sachin Tendulkar’s record and also to see if he would rise to the occasion by leading his team from the front, which he has often done in the past.
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