At the start of India’s first innings in the World Test Championship Final 2023, Rohit Sharma broke Virat Kohli‘s record for most runs by an Indian in the World Test Championship history. Soon after, Kohli broke Rohit’s tally to reclaim this record.
After holding off Australia for 469, India got off to a disastrous start and were reeling at 50/3 with the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Cheteshwar Pujara. Sharma, the India captain, got out for 15 runs, Gill for 13 and Pujara for 14.
At the time of writing, Kohli has scored 8 runs and has reclaimed this record of most runs in the WTC by an Indian batsman.
The WTC tournament was started in 2019 by the ICC to add more relevance to Test cricket with the top two teams in a each cycle of two years meeting in a final, and the Test mace being awarded to the winner of the WTC Final.
India have reached both finals. Under Kohli’s captaincy, India lost the WTC Final 2021 to New Zealand in Southampton. Now, under Sharma’s captaincy, India are competing with Australia in the World Test Championship Final 2023 at The Oval.
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in race for most runs in WTC for India
Rohit has scored 1809 runs in 23 Tests (37 innings) in the WTC at an average of 51 with 6 centuries and 5 fifties. Sharma and Virat Kohli were close and Kohli was leading the tally among Indian batsmen at the start of the World Test Championship Final 2023, which Sharma overtook with his 15 runs.
However, Kohli grabbed his position at the top back with his knock – he’s scored 13 runs at the time of writing – and has amassed 1812 runs in 53 innings of 32 Tests in the WTC at an average of 36. Kohli has recorded 3 centuries and 8 fifties in the competition.
Overall, it is England’s Joe Root who has scored the most WTC runs: 3575 runs in 42 Tests at an average of 50 with 11 centuries and 14 fifties, followed by Labuschagne, Smith, and Babar Azam.
