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Virat Kohli On The Verge Of 'Great England Feat' Ahead Of Hyderabad Test 

image-lrloukzdVirat Kohli [AP Photos]

The first Test of the five-match series against England in Hyderabad could be a memorable one in Virat Kohli's illustrious playing career for India, as the legendary right-hander stands on the verge of a huge feat versus the Three Lions. 

The veteran batter is nine runs away from achieving the 2,000 runs milestone versus the Englishmen in Test match cricket. Kohli currently boasts 1,991 runs in 28 Tests and 50 innings played against England at an average of 42.36 with five centuries and nine half-centuries.

If he gets there at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Kohli will become the third Indian batter in Test history to record 2,000 or more runs against his colonial rivals. Kohli stands behind his inspiration, Sachin Tendulkar, and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar on the list.

While Tendulkar finished his legendary career for India with 2,535 runs made over 32 Tests and 53 innings versus England, Gavaskar struck 2,483 runs in his 38 Tests and 67 innings against them during his pathbreaking reign. Tendulkar averaged 51.73 for his seven centuries, and Gavaskar averaged 38.20 for his four hundreds.

Kohli will require a bumper series to surpass the two giants of Indian cricket in their England tally. But more realistically, he is about to join them in the list of highest Indian run-makers versus the arch-rivals and also possibly match Tendulkar's century tally by the end of the upcoming series.

If he does that, Kohli will become the joint highest hundreds maker versus England for India in Tests alongside Tendulkar and fellow legend and current Indian head coach Rahul Dravid, who averaged a mindboggling 60.93 over 21 Tests for his 1,950 runs and dominated the opposition home and away.

Kohli will be critical to India's push to thwart the rising 'Bazball' threat as the hosts look to retain their home dominance and take crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points. The Test series starts on January 25.