Virat Kohli, Jayant Yadav go on a record-breaking spree vs England in Wankhede

Virat Kohli shattered plenty of records on the third day of the Wankhede Test against England, and continued that spree on Sunday. But he was joined by Jayant Yadav, who has displayed all virtues of a top order batsman in the three Tests he has featured in.

In the first session on Day 4, Kohli and Jayant put on a magnificent exhibition of batting as they extended India’s advantage over an England attack that was deflated and demoralised. The India skipper continued his great run in 2016 by notching up his third Test double century while Jayant carved a special place for himself in Indian cricket. In the end, their record partnership helped India to 631, giving them a potent lead of 231 runs.

Along the way, Jayant and Kohli broke some records as milestones continued to tumble in the Wankhede. Here is a glimpse of some of the records. (SCORECARD)

Highest eighth wicket partnership

Kohli and Jayant strung together a 241-run partnership, the highest for India in Tests for the eighth wicket. They overtook the previous highest of 161, between Mohammad Azharuddin and Anil Kumble against South Africa in Kolkata in 1996. Overall, it was the seventh-best partnership for the eighth wicket in Tests. The highest is held by England’s Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad, who shared 332 runs against Pakistan in the Lord’s Test of 2010.

Among partnerships achieved at No 8 or lower, Kohli and Jayant’s stand is number two on the all-time list, behind the 243 set by Australia’s Roger Hartigan and Clem Hill, also against England in Adelaide, 1908.

Highest runs by an Indian batsman in Tests versus England

Virat Kohli smashed 235 in the Wankhede Test. In the process, he broke a 23-year record as he became the highest run-scorer for India in Tests against England. The previous highest was by Vinod Kambli, who smashed 224 at this same venue in 1993. Kohli overtook Sunil Gavaskar (221) and Gundappa Viswanath (222) as he continued his record-breaking spree. He also achieved the record for the highest score by an Indian captain in Tests, breaking Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 224 versus Australia in Chennai in 2013.

During his knock of 235, Kohli also went past 600 runs in the series. He now has 640 runs at a whopping average of 128, with two fifties and two hundreds. This tally in the series is also the highest by an Indian against England, surpassing Rahul Dravid’s 602 during the 2002 series in England, which was drawn 1-1.

Jayant Yadav enters a special club

Jayant Yadav has showed his credentials as a batsman ever since he made his debut in the second Test in Visakhapatnam. In the third Test in Mohali, he scored his maiden fifty and shared a wonderful partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. In Mumbai, he went one step better.

Jayant displayed magnificent technique and attacked with intent to notch up his maiden century. It was the first century by an Indian No 9 batsmen in Tests. The previous highest score by an Indian No 9 in Tests was Farokh Engineer, who smashed 90 against New Zealand in Chennai in 1965. Interestingly, the former wicketkeeper has largely opened for India.

Overall, it is the 16th instance where a number nine batsman has scored a Test ton. The highest is by New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith, who smashed 173 against India in Auckland in 1990.

Kohli better as captain

Virat Kohli has been in the form of his life ever since he took over as Test captain. On Day 3 in Wankhede, he went past 2000 runs as skipper. He is enjoying a fabulous 2016, having scored four centuries, three of them double. His knock of 235 was the fifth-best by a captain against England. Brian Lara’s epic 400* in Antigua in 2004 is on top of the list.

His feat of three double centuries also puts him in an elite list of captains. Brian Lara leads the pack with five 200-plus scores as captain while Graeme Smith, Don Bradman and Michael Clarke have four each as captain. However, Clarke achieved the unique feat of scoring all his four tons in a calendar year. With one more Test to play in this series, Kohli is looking in ominous touch to enhance this record and cement his reputation as one of the greats.