Flashback: Virat Kohli’s special feat in the Lord’s Test
India rubbed shoulders with England during the second Test match of the five-match series and went on to win by huge 151 runs. During the same Test, one of the unique records came to the fore which acknowledged Virat Kohli. Virat Kohli became the only Indian skipper to score 50 runs (combined of both innings) at the Lord’s after Mohammad Azharuddin in the 1990 Test.
Kohli, who is currently going through a rough patch of time in his batting career, was expected to get something big under his belt in the Lord’s Test. However, that did not happen and he had to be satisfied with 42 runs in the first innings of the Lord’s Test 2021. Though he couldn’t score big, fans were delighted seeing him play his classic shots including the favourite cover drive.
Moving into his second innings, Kohli again lost his track and returned back after collecting just 20 runs. Though he got only a meagre amount of runs in his account, he joined a unique tally which put him in the list of only Indian skipper after Azhar to get 50 plus runs at the Lord’s. Keeping aside the contribution from Kohli, the Indian tail and bowling department produced extraordinary efforts and intent to grab the match in the most enthralling manner.
Down memory lane
Talking about the game which was held at Lord’s in 1990, the then Indian skipper Azharuddin shone up bright with the bat during the first innings of the game and played a fiery innings of 121 runs. During the same innings, the now head coach of the Indian team, Ravi Shastri, joined the party with another classy ton. In the next innings of the game, Azharuddin could collect only 37 runs and his combined tally stood at 158 runs.
It was the first Test during India’s tour to England and visitors lost it by huge 247 runs. Graham Gooch of England was declared as the player of the match in the same game as he operated on a different level and stole the show with a thundering triple century.
Therefore, while Kohli came up to bat at Lord’s in 2021, he became only the 2nd Indian skipper after Azhar to do so. The record becomes interesting when many skilful skippers took the charge of the India team after Azhar including the likes of Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni etc. However, they couldn’t get 50 plus runs at the Lord’s in Tests.
