Virat Kohli becomes fastest to reach 23000 international runs, leapfrogs Sachin Tendulkar

Indian skipper Virat Kohli is going through a lean patch in international cricket. Kohli has not scored a hundred since 2019 and his struggles with the bat have followed him in the ongoing Test series against England as well. The batter has consistently fallen victim to poking at deliveries outside off. Kohli has been dismissed caught behind in each of his five innings in the series.

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The-32-year old once again found himself at the crease sooner than expected as Indian openers departed quickly. At 54/3, India looks in deep trouble and the skipper has to shoulder the responsibility of taking his team to a decent score. Kohli has looked assured during his 29 ball stay at the wicket.

While Kohli would love to have a hundred in this game, he had a moment to cherish during his 18 runs inning as he surpassed legendary Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest batsman to reach 23000 runs in international cricket. Kohli reached the landmark in 490 innings, 32 less than Tendulkar who took 522 innings, after creaming a brilliant straight drive to his archival James Anderson. Kohli is only the seventh batsman to breach the 23000 mark after Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara Sangakkara, Rahul Dravid, and Mahela Jayawardene.

Meanwhile, England have strengthen their grip on the match at Lunch on Day 1, having restricted India to 54/3. Both Indian openers departed at the score of 28 before Pujara edged one to Bairstow at 39. India have promoted Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane. It's a great opportunity for Jadeja to make a case for himself as a specialist batsman for India.