5 Matches That Will Define Virat Kohli’s Legacy As India’s Greatest Test Captain

When MS Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket after the Boxing Day Test during the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Virat Kohli shouldered the responsibility to carry them up the order. He finished as the fourth most successful Test captain in history with 40 wins in 68 games at a win-loss ratio of 2.35.

The Delhi-born was intense and full of energy. Losing or drawing the red-ball games was his second thought. He made India believe it to win the Tests from any situation.

Here is the list of 5 games that will define Virat Kohli’s legacy as India’s greatest Test captain

1. 2017 Bengaluru Test vs Australia

It was the second Test of the 2016/17 Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The home side was behind with a 0-1 margin after their defeat in the opening Pune Test. Giving away a lead of 87 runs in the first inning kept India behind early on.

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Australia had a target of 188 runs in the fourth innings. Wickets were the only way for the blue brigade to win.

Virat Kohli kept going with an intense field set and used his pacers brilliantly with the old ball to find reverse swing. The home side earned a 75-run victory to draw the series margin by 1-1.

2. 2021 Lord’s Test vs England

There were very few games that would make the fans mentally tired. India’s win by 151 runs over England at Lord’s during the 2021 series was such an occasion. Joe Root’s fine knock of 180 runs neutralized the first innings.

Later, it was Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah’s last pair of 89 runs that provided them a small chance of winning the contest.

“Make the 60 over feel like hell”- Virat Kohli’s advice in the team huddle charged up the entire side. He was over the batters on every single delivery of the fifth day.

The bowlers kept responding with regular wickets as Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah shared seven wickets between them for the win.

3. 2014 Adelaide Test vs Australia

In MS Dhoni’s absence due to injury during the opening Adelaide Test of the 2014/15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Virat Kohli got the chance to lead the side. On a flat surface, the game rolls towards a boring drawn result.

Australia challenged the tourists to chase 364 runs on the fifth day. Most of the fans back home predicted that the visitors would go for a drawn result, apart from Virat Kohli, who was eager enough to go for a win. He smashed a fine 141 runs at a strike rate of 80, with 16 fours and one six.

India fell short of the target by 36 runs, but even Australia was shocked at the tourists’ mindset. It sent a new message of the side’s upcoming dominance in the longest format under Kohli’s leadership.

4, 2018 Johannesburg Test vs South Africa

India had already lost the series by a 2-0 margin, coming into the third game of the series despite their strong performances.

On a spicy surface, the Proteas batters complained of the uneven bounce and pace. The match referees also discussed with both camps, but Virat Kohli was keen enough to play on the track.

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Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane’s crucial knocks set a 241-run target for the Proteas. Dean Elgar smashed an unbeaten 86 runs, but that was not enough to save them from defeat. India finished the series with a 64-run victory for a 2-1 series margin.

5. 2021 Oval Test vs England

Rohit Sharma’s 127-run knock and a few fiery knocks from the late order set the stage for the fifth day of the game at the Kennington Oval. The series was poised at 1-1. On a flat surface under the sun, it was hard to take 10 wickets, especially after a 100-run opening stand.

But Virat Kohli’s use of the pacers in different situations was excellent. He brought back Jasprit Bumrah when the ball started to move a little. England fell like a pack of cards from 141/3 to 210, as India earned a fine 157-run victory.