Virat Kohli surpasses legend Brian Lara in all-time ICC-player rankings
What's the story
ICC Cricketer of the Year and Indian Test captain, Virat Kohli has leapfrogged West Indies legend, Brian Lara in the all-time ICC player rankings for Test Batsmen. Kohli earned 12-points after his gritty knock in the challenging conditions of Johannesburg. He now has 912 points, 1 more than Lara. Kohli scored 54 and 41 on a pitch where many couldn't get off the mark.
Data
Kohli is now 26th on the all-time list
Kohli has jumped five places from 31st to 26th position on the all-time list and is now ahead of the likes of Brian Lara (911), Kevin Pietersen (909), Hashim Amla (907), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (901), Michael Clarke (900) and Sachin Tendulkar (898).
Standout performer
Kohli stands tall above the rest
Kohli was the best batsman in the recently concluded three-match Test series between India and South Africa. Despite the testing conditions, the Indian skipper scored 286 runs at an average of 47.66, including the outstanding 153 at Centurion and is the highest scorer of the series. Kohli is also the only batsman who scored a hundred in the series.
Within sights
Sunil Gavaskar is the highest ranked Indian
The all-time list is headed by Australian legend, Don Bradman, who sits comfortably atop with 961 points. Second on the list, is the current number-one ranked batsman and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, Steven Smith with 947 points. The highest ranked Indian on the chart is ICC Cricket Hall of Fame winner, Sunil Gavaskar with 916 points.
Tough test ahead
Kohli will have to wait a while to surpass Gavaskar
India will be out of Test cricket action for a while now. Hence, Kohli will have to wait until June when India play a Test against new team Afghanistan to surpass Sunil Gavaskar's tally of 916 points. After Afghanistan, India will travel to England for 5 match Test series in August. Kohli has had troubles in England and it will be his ultimate Test.
GOAT
Is Kohli the greatest Indian Test cricketer?
There is no doubt that Virat Kohli is on his way to greatness, but it is too early to brand him as India's greatest ever Test cricketer. The game today has changed and the conditions are more favourable for batsmen. It wouldn't be fair to compare him the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, who competed against a much more fierce bowling line-up.