Virat Kohli’s 5 Best Innings In Test Cricket

On the morning of May 10, 2025, a few reports have claimed that Virat Kohli has informed the selectors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his wish to retire from the longest format before the upcoming England trip next month. However, the selectors asked him to rethink before the selection meeting.

It would be a blow to the blue brigade in the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have already hung up their shoes in the five-day format.

Kohli has currently smashed 9230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85 and a strike rate of 55.28, shouldering 30 centuries and 31 fifties at the best score of unbeaten 254 runs.

Here are Virat Kohli’s five best innings in Test cricket

1. 153 vs South Africa (Centurion, 2018)

It was the 2018 tour of South Africa for the Indian team. The home side batted first to post 335 in the first innings before the visitors struggled early in the innings with two quick wickets. Virat Kohli, the leader of the side, seemed to be batting on a different track.

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Their middle-order batters got starts, but none of them were able to convert them into a big score. Kohli smashed 153 runs in 217 balls at a strike rate of 70, thanks to 15 boundaries.

He carried the entire Indian batting up to 307 on his lone shoulder. Nearly 50% of the runs from the innings came from the bat of the Delhi-born.

Even though they went on to lose the game by 153 runs, Kohli’s knock of 379 minutes increased belief in the Indian camp.

2. 149 vs England (Edgbaston, 2018)

Virat Kohli’s tour to England in 2014 was a nightmare, with 134 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.40.

The pressure was huge on the batter in the 2018 series against both veteran and more skillful England pacers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad. And it became fiercer with an intense reception from the crowd.

Kohli walked into Edgbaston on August 2, 2018, and displayed great patience to tackle Anderson, playing with the batter’s defensive skills. A few edges dropped short, while the slip fielders didn’t help the bowlers either.

Reaching his first three-figure mark in England, Kohli pointed his finger to his head and ended with 149 runs in India’s first innings of 274 runs.

3. 105* vs NZ (Wellington, 2014)

Brendon McCullum’s 302-run knock with twin centuries from BJ Watling and James Neesham gave New Zealand a huge advantage in winning the second Test of the 2014 series at the Basin Reserve. At 54/3 in the fourth inning, India was under pressure.

But Virat Kohli started to counter-attack the Kiwi bowlers with a fantastic knock of an unbeaten 105 runs in 135 balls at a strike rate of 77.77, thanks to 15 boundaries and one six. That knock determined how the young batter would shoulder pressure for the national side as they marched into a drawn result.

4. 119 vs South Africa (Johannesburg, 2013)

It was a young Virat Kohli batting against the experienced South African pacers, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander. The new ball was seaming and swinging at the Bull Ring, Johannesburg.

But Virat was on a mission. Some of his drives were technically sound as he drilled 119 runs in 181 balls, thanks to 18 boundaries at a strike rate of 65.74.

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The Proteas getting rolled over for 244 runs in their first innings shows how vital that knock was for the visiting side, taking a lead of 36 runs.

5. 123 vs Australia (Perth, 2018)

It was a new strip at the Optus Stadium in Perth with seam movement, high pace, uneven bounces, and a turn off the rough surface.

But Virat Kohli's opening his account with a straight drive predicted something special. He looked to be a different beast on that surface among the 22 players across two teams.

The Indian captain nailed 123 runs in 257 balls with 13 fours and one six to carry the side near to Australia’s powerful 326 runs in the first inning.