Virat Kohli on Thursday became the fastest batsman to get to 23,000 international runs as he broke legendary Sachin Tendulkar record by achieving the landmark in 490 innings, 32 fewer than the former India captain. Virat Kohli needed just one run to get to the milestone and he did so with a stunning on-drive against his nemesis James Anderson on Day 1 of the 4th Test between India and England at the Oval in London.
Kohli is the fastest to the landmark as the Indian captain took only 490 innings to register the feat while Sachin Tendulkar had taken 522 innings to achieve the same milestone. Tendulkar is second in the list of quickest batsmen to reach 23000 runs, followed by Ricky Ponting (544), Jacques Kallis (551), Kumar Sangakkara (568), Rahul Dravid (576) and Mahela Jayawardena (645). Only seven cricketers in history have been able to cross the 23000-run mark. At The Oval, England won the toss and put India in to bat on an overcast morning in London on Thursday. The series is currently level at 1-1, with Joe Root leading England to a massive victory in the third Test. Kohli remained unbeaten on 17 as he looked sharp in the short stay at the middle, hitting some lovely on-drives. The home side won by an innings and 76 runs, with their captain smashing a stylish century. Root scored 121 runs off 165 balls during his side’s first innings. Earlier, India had won the second Test at Lord’s after the first match at Trent Bridge ended in a draw.
