Virat Kohli: A Legacy Of Passion, Grit, Leadership In Test Cricket

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MUMBAI (ANI) – When Virat Kohli officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, it marked the end of one of the most passionate and era-defining red-ball careers in Indian cricket. Over 123 Tests, Kohli scored 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties.

Kohli, known for his aggressive flair and mental fortitude, embraced the grind of Test cricket, whether in spin-friendly conditions at home or on challenging overseas pitches. His hunger to perform under pressure made him not just a statistical giant but a symbol of India’s transformation into a formidable Test side.

In Johannesburg in 2013, Kohli announced his arrival as a Test titan. Against a fearsome South African bowling attack, he scored 119 in the first innings and followed up with 96 in the second. India came close to a historic win, but Kohli’s performance against the world’s deadliest pace attack was a sign of things to come.

In 2014, when MS Dhoni was sidelined with injury, Kohli was thrust into the captaincy for the Adelaide Test against Australia. He scored 115 in the first innings and, in a bold display of leadership, struck 141 in the fourth innings while chasing an improbable 364, pushing for victory despite the mounting wickets.

Back on home soil in 2016, Kohli played one of his most memorable innings—235 runs against England at Wankhede. Facing 340 balls, he held India’s innings together, guiding them to a commanding 631. This knock was his third double-century of the year, setting an Indian record and helping India seal the series.

After a tough tour of England in 2014, Kohli returned in 2018 with a vengeance. In the first Test at Edgbaston, he silenced his critics with a superb 149, playing with both aggression and discipline against a relentless English attack led by James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Kohli’s 153 in South Africa in 2018 remains one of his most gritty performances. On a challenging pitch with uneven bounce, against bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel, Kohli’s knock accounted for nearly half of India’s total score, with no other Indian batter passing 50.

His career-best Test score came in 2019 against South Africa at Pune, where he scored 254 not out. Batting for over eight hours, Kohli’s supreme control and precision helped India reach 601/5, securing a dominant victory.

Virat Kohli’s Test career transcended the hundreds and averages. It was about his leadership, his fierce and focused demeanor, and his relentless drive to push India forward. His influence on India’s red-ball identity, from inspiring fast bowlers to instilling a fitness culture, will leave a lasting legacy in Indian cricket.