Stats: Virat Kohli enforces follow-on for the record 8th time; goes past Mohammad Azharuddin

India had a field day on Day 3 of the third Test against South Africa in Ranchi on Monday. After declaring their innings at 497 for 9 on the second day, the hosts knocked off two South Africa wickets by stumps. And on Day 3, they not only bowled the Proteas out for 162 but also gave them follow-on and took another eight wickets for only 132 runs. SA still need 204 runs to make India bat with just two wickets in hand. A 3-0 is clearly on the cards.

The South African collapse and India asking them to follow-on saw home captain Virat Kohli gaining ownership of another record. Having enforced follow-ons in back to back Tests, Kohli now has bettered his predecessor Mohammad Azharuddin’s record of enforcing the most number of follow-ons as the captain of India.

Dhoni has enforced five follow-ons, Ganguly four

With the follow-on at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Kohli now has made it eight times, one more than Azharuddin. Mahendra Singh Dhoni had enforced five follow-ons while Sourav Ganguly, the current BCCI president-elect, has four. Ganguly, however, has the unique record of winning a game after facing a follow-on which was against Australia at his home ground Eden Gardens in 2001.

For South Africa, however, it was a humiliation. It is the first time that Faf du Plessis’ side followed on in two consecutive Tests in 18 years. Australia were the last team to ask them to follow on. It is also the first time in 26 years that India have enforced the follow-on in back to back Tests. The last time they did so was against Sri Lanka at home in 1993 when Azharuddin was at the helm.

Kohli also has a high percentage of wins after enforcing the follow-on. Out of the seven times that he asked opponents to follow on, India have won five times while on two occasions, the game ended in a draw. It looks certain to become six out of eight in Ranchi now. A 3-0 win in the series will mean India have now won their last five Tests on the trot and that takes their points tally in the ICC World Test Championship to 240.

Indian captains who enforced follow-on most times