A Look Back At ‘King’ Kohli’s Test Legacy!

Virat Kohli officially announced his retirement from International Test Cricket. He is a world-class player whose playing style has influenced many youngsters of the current generation. As he is quitting Test cricket, here is a look back at his career and some significant milestones he registered.

Under Virat Kohli’s leadership, Indian cricket reached unprecedented heights. Kohli built a team that became a dominant force in world cricket. The historic 2-1 series win in Australia during the 2018–19 tour, which broke a 71-year drought, is a testament to his impact.

Kohli debuted in Tests in June 2011 against the West Indies in Kingston. Though he had a modest start, he soon cemented his place and evolved into a run machine for India. He notched his maiden century in Adelaide in 2012 and amassed 9,230 runs across 123 Tests, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His highest score — a commanding 254 — came against South Africa in Pune.

While his form dipped in recent years, with just one century during the 2024–25 tour of Australia, his contributions remain immense.

Known as the ‘Double Century King,’ Kohli holds the record for the most Test double hundreds by an Indian — seven. His first came in 2016 against the West Indies, but his peak arrived in 2019, with a monumental 254 against South Africa.

Impressively, he also became the only player to score double centuries in four consecutive Test series, surpassing legends like Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid, who each managed the feat in three successive series.

Taking over the captaincy from MS Dhoni in December 2014, Kohli transformed India into a red-ball powerhouse. His aggressive leadership brand propelled India to the top of the ICC Test rankings. It inspired landmark overseas victories, including series wins in Australia, South Africa, and a memorable triumph at Lord’s in 2021. Under his captaincy, India won 40 out of 68 Tests, making him the most successful Indian Test captain ever.

Kohli also set a benchmark as a batsman while leading the side. He scored 5,864 runs as captain, including 20 centuries and 18 fifties — the most Test runs by an Indian captain. His 20 centuries as skipper are also a national record, eclipsing Sunil Gavaskar’s 11.

With 9,230 Test runs overall, Virat Kohli is India’s fourth-highest run-scorer, trailing only behind legends Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.

After Sachin Tendulkar, if there is any batsman who made cricket lovers glued to their TV sets, it is Kohli. We will miss Kohli on the field, playing red-ball cricket.