5 Records which Virat Kohli can break in New Zealand T20Is: The Indian captain is in line to surpass some big names in T20Is.
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India’s forthcoming T20I series against New Zealand will be their first-ever five-match series in the format. Starting from January 24, the series will be India’s closest chance to get a hang of how things will pan out with respect to the conditions in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
The showpiece event will unequivocally require captain Virat Kohli to lead from the front when it comes to batting in the top-order. Among his other responsibilities as a captain, Kohli would also be putting special emphasis on his batting for he is yet to play a T20I in New Zealand. Yes, you read it right.
Having said that, the 31-year old player would be banking on his otherwise stellar record in the format which makes him the highest run-scorer on the back of scoring 2,689 runs at an average of 52.72 and a strike rate of 138.53 including 24 half-centuries.
Apart from maintaining the lead in the aforementioned milestone, Kohli also has a chance of surpassing many illustrious T20I names in this series.
5 Records which Virat Kohli can break in New Zealand T20Is
Most T20I runs as captain
Out of Kohli’s 78 T20Is, 33 have seen him leading the side. Having scored 1,032 runs at an average of 46.90 and a strike rate of 143.73, Kohli is currently the fourth-highest run-scorer as a T20I captain.
The record for most runs as a T20I captain currently lies with South Africa’s Faf du Plessis who has scored 1,273 runs in 40 T20Is as captain of the Proteas.
It is worth mentioning that Kohli needs only 52 runs to go past New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (1,032) and 81 runs to go past former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (1,112).
Considering a five-match series, Kohli should be able to surpass both these players. However, it will require a significant effort on his part to score 242 runs and become the highest run-scorer as a T20I captain.
Most T20I runs in SENA countries
In the 17 T20Is which Kohli has played in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia, he has scored 552 runs at an average of 50.18 and a strike rate of 139.04 including five half-centuries.
Kohli is currently at No. 25 in this list and has a lot to catch-up as far as scoring runs in the SENA countries are countries. A decent series for Kohli should see him jumping at least 6-7 places in this list.
40 runs behind Dhoni, Kohli should be able to achieve that record. That being said, what will be intriguing to watch is where he surpasses his deputy in Rohit Sharma or not. Currently at No. 15, India’s opening batsman has scored 719 runs in 31 T20Is at an average of 32.68 and a strike rate of 135.91.
With Sharma also playing this series, Kohli has a daunting task up his sleeve in this category.
Most T20I runs at away venues
As far as batting at all away venues are concerned, Kohli comfortably sits at No. 2 with 954 runs in 29 T20Is at an average of 50.21 and a strike rate of 136.48 including nine half-centuries.
Kohli needs only a couple of runs to reach at the top position by replacing veteran Pakistan all-rounder Mohammed Hafeez who has scored 955 runs in 35 T20Is away from home.
Most T20I runs against New Zealand
Having played only five T20Is against New Zealand, Kohli has scored 197 runs at a strike rate of 155.11. Currently at No. 21, Kohli needs only two runs to surpass Sharma who has scored 198 runs in nine T20Is against New Zealand.
While Kohli has a clear chance of being better than others in this list, he will be once again in a competition with Hafeez who sits at the second position with 412 runs in 14 T20Is against the Kiwis.
In a bid to top this list by overdoing England captain Eoin Morgan, the Indian skipper will need to score 228 runs in the five-match series.
Most runs by an Indian batsman in New Zealand
As mentioned above, Kohli will be playing his first T20I in New Zealand in this series. Despite the same, he has an easy chance of surpassing Dhoni (91) who is second on the list of most runs by an Indian batsman in New Zealand.
While Sharma tops this list with 96 runs in four T20Is, it will once again require a top effort from Kohli to go past Sharma for both of them will be playing this series.
