No dearth of motivation for Virat Kohli as he reaches yet another milestone

India’s remarkable fightback in the Bangalore Test may not have been enough to prevent New Zealand from securing their first win on Indian soil in 36 years, but premier batsman Virat Kohli reached a significant personal milestone – surpassing 9,000 runs in Test cricket. This achievement places him in an elite group of only four Indian batsmen in the 92-year history of Indian Test cricket to reach this landmark, alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.

At the end of the rain-affected first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli’s total stands at 9,017 runs in 116 Tests, with an average of 48.74 and 29 centuries. His next target is Gavaskar’s tally of 10,122 of which he is 1,105 runs short. With India scheduled to play 10 Tests during the 2024-25 season, including two more against New Zealand and five in Australia, Kohli has ample opportunity to close in on this figure. The upcoming five-Test series in England in mid-2025, and potentially a World Test Championship (WTC) final, should also provide further motivation for the master batsman.

Tendulkar remains the all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket with 15,921 runs in 200 matches, followed by Dravid (13,265 in 163) and Gavaskar. Globally, 17 batsmen still sit ahead of Kohli, although this doesn’t appear to be his primary focus.

‘Nothing to prove’

Kohli has been a mainstay of India’s batting line-up since making his Test debut against the West Indies in June 2011. He turns 36 on November 5, so age may soon become a factor, but Kohli continues to possess all the qualities essential for success — motivation, fitness, intensity, and an insatiable hunger for scoring runs.

His passion is that of a 19-year-old. His wrists are as supple as ever, enabling him to play crisp cover drives and quick flicks on the on-side. He continues to run between the wickets like a hare, as demonstrated in Bangalore, and his fielding and catching show no signs of laxity. Moreover, the senior-most team member now smiles more often and mingles freely with his younger teammates, making them feel comfortable and adapting to the times.

Having retired from T20 cricket and relinquished captaincy, Kohli now focuses solely on Test and One-Day Internationals, allowing him to concentrate fully on his batting. However, since stepping down from the Test captaincy following the surprising 1-2 series defeat in South Africa in 2022, he has yet to produce a standout performance with the bat. “I have nothing to prove to anyone,” Kohli said at the time, and his record suggests he’s correct.

The road ahead

After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings in Bangalore, Kohli bounced back in the second, scoring a composed 70 before being dismissed on the last ball of the third day. It was his first half-century in eight innings, and many fans, including those from New Zealand, were disappointed he couldn’t go on to score a century. “I came here to watch Kohli score a hundred and see New Zealand win,” said a Kiwi fan after Kohli’s dismissal.

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar commented: “You’ve got to feel sorry for Virat Kohli because that innings had the potential to be a big hundred. No matter his form, Kohli’s intent is always clear, and he backed himself after that duck in the first innings.”

It’s worth noting that Kohli was shifted to the No. 3 position in Bangalore due to team adjustments. Typically, he bats at No. 4, where he has scored 81.56% of his career runs — 7,355 of 9,017.

With the second Test in Pune starting on October 24 and the third in Mumbai on November 1, Kohli will be eager to make amends. Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium holds fond memories for him; it was here that he recorded his highest Test score—254 not out against South Africa in 2019.

Similarly, Kohli has sweet memories of Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where he has scored a double century and three half-centuries

The Australian challenge

After the New Zealand series, India will embark on a high-stake five-Test tour of Australia from November to January. Of the seven countries—excluding India—where Kohli has played Test cricket, he has found the most success in Australia. In 13 Tests, he has scored 1,352 runs, including six centuries and four half-centuries, at an impressive average of 54.08. This success will undoubtedly serve as motivation for him. “Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success,” Kohli says.

Australian pitches are typically fast with good bounce, suiting Kohli’s style as a stroke player who prefers the ball to come onto the bat. Moreover, he has performed well at four of the five venues where India will compete.

The opening Test will take place at the new Perth Stadium, where Kohli has one appearance and a century. He has also excelled at three of the other four venues. In Adelaide, where the second Test is scheduled, he has amassed 509 runs, including three centuries, in four matches; in Melbourne (fourth Test), he has scored 316 in three encounters, with one hundred; and in Sydney, the fifth Test venue, he has made 147 runs in three Tests, with one ton. The only venue where he needs to improve is Brisbane (third Test), where he has played just once and scored 19 runs.

Overall, the Australian tour presents a significant opportunity for Kohli to add to his tally and potentially rewrite the record books.

Targeting the WTC final

India’s journey doesn’t end in Australia. They are also set to play five Tests in England in June-July 2025. Should Kohli remain fit and motivated, the series will offer him a chance to shine on English soil once more. After a disastrous first tour in 2014, when he managed just 134 runs in five Tests, Kohli made a strong comeback in 2018 and performed decently in 2021.

For now, Kohli’s immediate goal is to help India win the remaining two Tests against New Zealand and then overcome Australia to secure a spot in the WTC final. India currently lead the WTC points table with 68.06 percentage points, followed by Australia (62.50), Sri Lanka (55.56), and New Zealand (44.44). India need five wins from their remaining seven matches to guarantee their place in the final, and the resilience shown by Rohit Sharma’s team in Bangalore offers hope of India reaching their third consecutive WTC final.

The writer is a senior journalist based in Delhi and has covered sports for over three decades