3 Test Records Rohit Sharma Holds But Virat Kohli Does Not

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma [Source: @soldierboy_23/x.com]

With more than 9,000 Test runs and 30 centuries, Virat Kohli established himself as one of the greats in the format, especially from India. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma might not boast of such great numbers but he has carve his own legacy in the format. Here is a look at three unique achievements on Test cricket that Rohit has but Kohli does not.

1. Century on Test Debut

Rohit Sharma after debut Test century [Source: @incricketteam/x.com]

Rohit Sharma announced his arrival in Test cricket with a spectacular 177 against West Indies at Eden Gardens in 2013. Coming in at a precarious position with India struggling at 82-4, Rohit's composed yet authoritative batting helped India recover to a commanding position. This magnificent innings remains the second-highest score by an Indian on Test debut, behind only Shikhar Dhawan's 187.

In contrast, Kohli's Test journey began with modest scores of 4 and 15 against West Indies in 2011.

2. Twin Centuries in a Single Test Match

In October 2019 against South Africa in Visakhapatnam, Rohit achieved the rare feat of scoring centuries in both innings of a Test match as an opener. Opening the batting, he crafted a majestic 176 in the first innings and followed it with an equally impressive 127 in the second. This exceptional performance not only showcased his adaptability and concentration but also cemented his position as an opener in Test cricket.

Despite his prolific record, Virat Kohli did manage to score two centuries in the same match against Australia in Adelaide in 2014, but he never opened the innings for India.

3. Perfect Century-Win Correlation

Perhaps the most extraordinary statistic in Rohit Sharma's Test career is his perfect correlation between centuries and victories. All 12 of his Test hundreds have come in matches that India won, giving him an immaculate 100% win record when reaching three figures. This remarkable achievement stands in stark contrast to Virat Kohli's record, who despite scoring more centuries (30), has seen India lose 7 and draw 9 matches in which he scored a hundred.

While Kohli's overall Test achievements may overshadow Rohit's in volume and consistency, these three unique accomplishments showcase the special quality of Sharma's contributions to Indian Test cricket – selective but spectacularly effective.