Virat Kohli becomes first batter to cross 2000 runs in seven different calendar years

Virat Kohli on Thursday added another world record to his glittering career as he became the first player to cross 2000 international runs in seven different calendar years. Kohli got to the record in India’s second innings of the Centurion Test against South Africa. **India vs South Africa 1st Test Day 3 LIVE** The former Indian captain broke the record of Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara who had scored 2000 or more international runs in six different calendar years.

The first player to cross 2⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ International runs in 7⃣ different calendar years 👑@imVkohli, a class apart! 🙌#PlayBold #SAvIND #TeamIndia #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/09DWp4yP8z

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) December 28, 2023

The star batter is currently waging a lone battle against South Africa after the Proteas took a 163-run first innings lead. India have so far lost eight wickets on the third day of the first Test at SuperSport Park. India were 113 for eight at the time of publishing this report, still 50 runs in arrears, with Indian captain Rohit Sharma (0), fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (5), Shubman Gill (26), Shreyas Iyer (6), KL Rahul (4), Ravichandran Ashwin (0), Shardul Thakur (2) and Jasprit Bumrah (0) all back in the pavilion. Dean Elgar (185) and Marco Jansen (84 not out) had transformed a slender 11-run lead for South Africa into a strong position, sharing a 111-run sixth wicket partnership. South African captain Temba Bavuma did not bat after suffering a hamstring injury on the first day. Kagiso Rabada, who took five wickets in the first innings, had Jaiswal dropped by Aiden Markram at second slip off the first ball of the second innings. But Rabada bowled Sharma in the next over with a superb delivery which deviated off a full length to hit off stump. Burger then produced a sharp lifter which Jaiswal gloved to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne. Gill hit six boundaries in a 39-run stand with Virat Kohli (18 not out) before he was bowled when he played across a full ball from Jansen. Shreyas Iyer was dropped in the last over before tea with his score on four when Keegan Petersen could not hold a sharp chance at third slip off Jansen. Iyer was cleaned up by Jansen after tea, while Nandre Burger dismissed Rahul and Ashwin. Shardul Thakur became a victim of Rabada, while Bumrah got run out. With AFP inputs