Indian skipper notches sixth career double hundred and joins the milestone club
There is no stopping Virat Kohli. Just a day after becoming the first captain to register a hat-trick of centuries in a three-match series, the Indian skipper scaled yet another milestone when he scored his sixth double century, the highest as a captain. He overtook West Indies great Brian Lara, who held the record previously with five double tons in Tests.
On the second day of the third Test against Sri Lanka, Kohli brought up his second consecutive double century – following his 213 run knock in Nagpur – from 238 balls while accumulating 20 boundaries during that period. Kohli began the day’s play, alongside Rohit Sharma, from 156 runs and much like the opening day’s play, he was barely bothered by the Sri Lankan bowlers.
He joins England great Wally Hammond (twice), Australian icon Sir Donald Bradman, countryman Vinod Kambli as well as modern greats Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and Michael Clarke of Australia in achieving the feat.
Some renowned cricket personalities congratulated King Kohli in such manner:
It’s the sixth time Kohli has posted a score of 200 or more in Tests, moving him to equal sixth on the all-time list alongside former teammates Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Bradman (12 career doubles) and Sangakkara (11) lead the way in that regard.
Back to back double 💯 for King Kohli #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/NDMmtzbs4W
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 3, 2017
His sixth double as skipper is a Test record, surpassing Brian Lara’s mark of five.
Kohli survived a loud appeal for leg before just as he approached the 200-run mark. Batting on 195, Sri Lanka appealed long and loudly for a leg before off Dilruwan Perera but the on-field umpire adjudged it to be not out. As it went upstairs, it was confirmed that it was indeed not out. With the ball pitching on off stump and sliding through, Kohli was saved by a thick inside edge. Had it not taken the outside of the bat, it would have been curtains for the skipper. But besides that, Kohli faced little resistance and challenge from the opposition bowling.
With the double century, Kohli added to his ever growing list of records. With the double, Kohli became the first skipper to score six double centuries, equals Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag with most doubles by an Indian in Tests and sixth batsman to score consecutive double tons in Tests.