On Monday, during the fourth day of the second test match between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, the star batter of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli added yet another feather in his cap. He accomplished the incredible milestone of becoming the quickest player to score 27000 international runs. Kohli bettered the record of 26,193 runs held by batting god Sachin Tendulkar, who achieved this in 623 innings, by reaching the figure in just 594 innings. Thereby, Kohli became the first and only player in cricket history to complete 27000 international runs in under 600 innings. The spouses who have also accomplished this includes former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara.
Michael Vaughan, a former England cricket team captain, thinks that the engaging first inning of India against Bangladesh in the second Test has the trademark of England’s approach christened “Bazball”.
Normal batting order was returned to on the first essay where openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma set the pace for India’s rapid response at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur after dismissing Bangladesh for 233 in the second.
Fastest to 27000 international runs
594 innings – Virat Kohli
623 innings – Sachin Tendulkar
648 innings – Kumar Sangakkara
650 innings – Ricky Ponting
Vaughan took to X and posted, “I see India are playing Bazball” inferring India’s aggressive stroke play to the classic dominated over the Bazball.
In other words, ‘Baazball’ recalls the classy imbued warfare’ style of cricket which English played towards the end of their test match against New Zealand, which became famous after Brendon McCullum became the red-ball team’s coach in 2022.
India amassed a score of 285/9 in their innings in 34.4 overs and opted to declare their innings with a surplus of 52 runs in the last session of Day 4. Among the outbursts from the Indians, the one led by Jaiswal who reached the half-century mark in 31 balls and Rohit 11 ball 23 with three sixes and one four was clearly unforgettable. Come matching Jaiswal’s innings of 72 off 51 balls comprising 12 fours and two sixes as India finished their quickest ever team fifty and hundred in 18 and 61 balls respectively.
Regardless of the frequent losses of wickets, the home batters managed to score in accordance with the run rate throughout the innings till the last wicket fell. Shubman Gill scored 39, Virat Kohli scored 47, while KL Rahul struck at the same furious pace.
It also shows the mindset of the players in looking to score quickly even after having so many breaks especially since the last two days of play were hampered by rains accompanied by a sodden outfield.
At the moment, India is occupying the first position in the standings of the ICC World Test Championship and the clear win versus Bangladesh that was 2-0 will enhance their chances of reaching the final for the third time in a row.
Though if the Test match in Kanpur is drawn, India faces a more challenging prospect of navigating the remaining eight matches in the current WTC cycle and winning five Tests.
Following the conclusion of the Bangladesh series, india are set to welcome New Zealand for a three-Test series in October then headed to Australia for a five-Test series.
