Virat gets ‘classy’ praise from former Sri Lanka’s Captain Kumar Sangakkara
Kohli struck 243 off just 287 deliveries with the help of 25 boundaries in the final game. He said it was a revelation that he can play at a fast pace in Test cricket, just like he does in ODIs.
India cricket captain Virat Kohli notched up 2818 runs across all formats in international cricket in 2017 – the third-highest total ever registered in a calendar year.
Virat Kohli, who completed the year 2017 on a new high and also sealed a series win over Sri Lanka, was praised by Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara on Twitter.
Kohli achieved a rare distinction of starting a series with a duck but still ending up as its highest run-getter. He notched up scores of 0, 104*, 213, 243 and 50 in the three-match series which India clinched 1-0.
The Indian captain thus scored more than 600 runs in the series but fell a little short of Sangakkara’s overall tally of 2,868 runs across formats in a calendar year by a whisker.
I don’t think that will last long the way @imVkohli is batting. He will probably overtake it next year and then do it again the year after. He is a different class.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) December 6, 2017
Kumar Sangakkara’s 2868 runs in 2014 will remain as the highest tally ever recorded in a calendar year as Virat Kohli ends year 2017 with 2818 runs #Cricket
— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) December 5, 2017
As of December 6, Kohli was the third highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 1,059 runs at 75.64 with the help of five centuries and a fifty. In ODIs, Kohli is by far the best batsman in the format with 1,460 runs in 26 matches, at 76.84 with six centuries and seven fifties. In 10 T20Is, the Indian captain made 299 runs with two fifties.
On Wednesday, after a Sri Lankan cricket statistician pointed out that Kohli has fallen short of Sangakkara’s stunning record, the legendary cricketer replied in a manner that would give immense confidence to Kohli.
Virat Kohli will now be taking a break – and will reportedly marry his girlfriend Anushka Sharma during his time off – before the Indian cricket team’s tour of South Africa, which begins late December with a tour match.
The first Test on the South Africa tour will begin January 5, at Cape Town.