On Monday, May 12, Virat Kohli, the former captain of India, sent an emotional message on Instagram announcing his retirement from Test cricket. At the end of his Test career, Kohli is the most successful Indian skipper and the fourth-highest run scorer in the format.
Kohli played 123 Test matches for the country since making his Test debut against the West Indies in Kingston in 2011. One of the forerunners of Test cricket, he led India to unprecedented heights and became an unstoppable force in international cricket.
They began to consistently win abroad as Kohli instilled a spirit of perseverance throughout the group. In addition to his skill with the bat, he was praised in the longest format for his leadership abilities.
The renowned batter amassed 9230 runs at an average of 46.85 at the end of his career, including 31 half-centuries and 30 hundreds. He made a number of underappreciated knocks in Test cricket over the years. Here are five examples of them:
1. 75 vs Australia in Perth, 2012
Virat Kohli showed off his skills against a top-tier Australian bowling attack on his debut tour to Australia. He scored a smooth 44 in the first innings after a talented and seasoned batting lineup was unable to make an impression. In the end, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle ripped through the lineup, bowling India out for 161.
Australia took a huge 208-run advantage because to David Warner’s incredible 180 from 159 balls. India was already behind in the match and lost the second innings as well, but Kohli fought hard.
They were reduced to 51/4 before a brilliant partnership between Kohli and VVS Laxman gave India hope. Even though Kohli hit some spectacular strokes on his way to reaching 75, Australia triumphed by an innings and 37 runs.
2. 74 vs Australia in Adelaide, 2020
This blow was received in the first Test of 2019/20 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli was supposed to feature in first Test of the series because of the birth of his first born. He was looking to create a mark, and but for a run out, it would have been a century in Adelaide for him.
India had a top order melt-down batting first and were reduced to 32/2 before Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara got the ship steadied with a clever partnership. From thereon, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane took the game forward with a 88 runs stand. Both batsmen were in absolute control of events.
At his most dominant, Kohli handled the situation flawlessly and was hardly bothered by any of the bowlers. When he was dismissed at 74 after a mix-up with Ajinkya Rahane, he appeared to be on track for a century.
In the end, India was knocked out for just 244. India lost badly, being bowled out for just 36 runs in the second innings, even though they had taken a 53-run lead in the first. Australia took a 1-0 lead in the series after winning the match by eight wickets.
However, India recovered to win the series 2-1.
3. 54 vs South Africa in Johannesburg, 2018
In 2018, Kohli delivered one of his most underappreciated blows against South Africa in Johannesburg on a ground that even the South African batsmen regarded as hazardous. Both sides’ batters were concerned by the ball as it reared off from a distance.
In the first innings, Kohli hit a brilliant half-century that featured nine fours and a crucial 74-run partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara. India was bowled out for 187 after wickets continued to fall one after another after their dismissals.
India batted effectively in the second innings despite overwhelming odds, but South Africa took a narrow seven-run lead. Ajinkya Rahane added 48 points to Kohli’s 41. India won by 63 runs, as South Africa was unable to reach the target of 241 runs.
4. 103 vs Sri Lanka in Galle, 2015
Sri Lanka were all out for 183 in the first innings of the 2015 Galle Test while India earned a humongous 192-run lead. Shikhar Dhawan was on his sublime best scoring a brilliant century and Kohli bat on the other end took the responsibility and kept the scorecard running. Granted, he was not much disturbed and went ahead to compile a well-compiled ton.
His knock comprised 11 fours and some of his trademark drives but he was gone soon after getting the landmark. A breathtaking 162 made by Dinesh Chandimal in the second innings set Sri Lanka a total to bowl at in the second innings. Then Rangana Herath mowed down the Indian batting order for seven in the second-innings as Sri Lanka won the game by 63 runs.
India later on won the series 2-1, their first Test series win Sri Lanka in more than twenty years, under the leadership of Kohli.
5. 104 vs Sri Lanka in Kolkata, 2017
Another tough wicket, and Kohli delivered another masterclass against Sri Lanka. As the ball swung and seamed around, making life tough for the hitters, India was bowled out for a pitiful 172 runs in the first innings of the Kolkata Test. Sri Lanka took a crucial lead of 122 runs in the first innings.
With a stunning century from captain Virat Kohli, India displayed their class with the bat and scored a massive 352 as the pitch calmed down a little. India intended to impose a result, therefore he left in a positive mood.
He was able to reach 104 off just 119 deliveries, smashing 12 fours and two sixes. Despite being reduced to 75/7, Sri Lanka managed to rescue a hard-fought tie on the last day as the light faded.
