Top five Test knocks by Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli might not be in the best of form in the last few years but he was the superstar for India in the last decade. He changed Indian cricket’s fortunes in the longest format of the game after taking over the captaincy. Moreover, Kohli went through the purple patch as well with the bat, especially during the second half of the previous decade. 

Having played 117 Test matches and amassed 9035 runs in his illustrious career so far, Virat Kohli has so far smacked 29 centuries and 31 fifties. He has played some exceptional knocks right from when he made his debut against the West Indies in 2011. He is currently standing in the face of adversity with his technique against spin being questioned. But there was a time when he swept out of the rough and made a mockery of the spinners. The former India skipper also played quite a few knocks in swinging conditions away from home.

On that note, let us have a look at the top 5 knocks of Virat Kohli in Test cricket: 

1. 119 vs South Africa, Johannesburg in 2013

This was a special innings from Virat Kohli as he stood up in adversity after coming out to bat when the score was 24/2. Kohli scored his fifth Test century in Johannesburg facing the likes of Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel, and Dale Steyn, the pace trio that was at its peak then. During his 257-minute stay in the middle, Kohli played sublime shots very early in his career showcasing his talent against the best. He scored 119 runs with 18 fours to his name even as the Test match ended in a draw.

2. 141 vs Australia, Adelaide in 2014

Virat Kohli has a special distinction of scoring twin centuries in the first-ever Test as a captain. Having already scored a ton in the first innings, Kohli led the way in the 364-run chase in the final of the Adelaide Test. He scored a staggering 141 off just 175 deliveries with 16 fours and a six to his name. Unfortunately, due to a middle and lower-order collapse, India got bowled out for 315 runs and lost the game but well and truly, Kohli’s era as captain in Tests had begun then.

3. 235 vs England, Mumbai in 2016

Virat Kohli arguably played one of his best knocks against spin in this Test. In response to England’s 400, India had lost six wickets for 307 runs. The ball had already started turning viciously on the third day. But Kohli stepped up to show his class on the turning pitch, sweeping out of the rough and driving against the turn to smash a brilliant double-century. His knock took India to 631 from 307/6 and by the time, Kohli got out, England players’ energy was also down and that was visible in their second essay with the bat. They collapsed to 195 losing the match by an innings and 36 runs going down in the Test despite posting 400 runs in the first innings.

4. 149 vs England, Edgbaston in 2018

Kohli was at the peak of his powers in Test cricket during this period and this is when he also smashed his first ton in England. He walked out to bat at Edgbaston with the crowd booing for an impolite send-off to his counterpart Joe Root earlier in the game. Unfortunately, yet again, it was only him who fought with the bat in this innings. With the next best score of 26 in the innings, Kohli had to single-handedly carry the Indian batting as he scored 149 runs out of 274 while batting for 277 minutes smashing 22 fours and a six. He scored a half-century in the second innings as well but India eventually lost the match by 31 runs.

5. 104* vs Sri Lanka, Kolkata in 2017 

This might surprise many but India had opted for a green track at the Eden Gardens to prepare for the South Africa tour. After conceding a 122-run lead in the first innings, Kohli stood strong in adversity, not for the first time, to score an unbeaten 104 during his 208-minute stay in the middle with 12 fours and two sixes to his name. Battling conditions similar to those away from home, Kohli displayed resilience to help the team take a lead of 230 runs as he remained unbeaten. If not for the bad light, India would’ve easily won the game on the final day as Sri Lanka heaved a sigh of relief at 75/7.