From countering Johnson in Melbourne to standing up to Anderson at Edgbaston, Kohli has beaten the odds and attacks around the world
ESPNcricinfo staff12-May-20254:15
Kumble: Everyone knew if Kohli goes past 20, it’s going to be a big one
119 vs South Africa: Johannesburg, 2013
In the first Test of a 13-month stretch in which India would play four overseas series, Kohli set the tone with an innings that South Africa’s then bowling coach Allan Donald said “reminded him of Tendulkar”. In seaming conditions against Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, Kohli left the ball a lot early on, before opening up and targeting the spinners. It was a smart innings that allowed India to eventually get to a winning position before the match ended in a tense draw.
105* vs New Zealand, Wellington, 2014
It looked like India might get Kolkata-ed. They were well ahead in the Test, but Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling had done a Laxman-Dravid, and on day five, it looked like India might lose. Rather than just bat time, Kohli played sparkling shots all around the wicket, taking the pressure off India and getting them a draw.
141 vs Australia: Adelaide, 2014
In his first Test as captain, though he was just filling in for MS Dhoni at the time, Kohli had already got a century in the first innings. When Australia made an aggressive declaration, leaving India 364 to chase on the final day, Kohli decided that his side was going to play for a win and not a draw, and that he was going to be the one to show them how. Nathan Lyon was turning it big, and there was awkward bounce, but Kohli was sweeping from outside off, cover-driving against the turn, and pulling and cutting Mitchell Johnson. His strike rate was 80.57, and he got India to within 60 runs of a win before holing out at midwicket.
In Melbourne in 2014-15, Virat Kohli created theatre on cricket’s largest stage•Getty Images169 vs Australia: Melbourne 2014
Spectacular, courageous and skilful, this was an innings of both soul and substance. Kohli had already announced himself earlier on the tour with twin hundreds in Adelaide, but with Ajinkya Rahane matching him, he created theatre on cricket’s largest stage by roughing up Johnson (off whom he took 68 from 73 balls), who had terrified England on these pitches the previous season. I was there, and the sensation remains.
235 vs England: Mumbai, 2016
Don’t be fooled by the scorecard; this was a masterclass against spin on a pitch that had turned vicious by day three. Playing five batters, India were six down and 93 runs in arrears when Kohli started amping it up, sweeping out of the rough, driving against the turn and lofting down the ground. When he was done, England were done too.
104* vs Sri Lanka: Kolkata, 2017
India opted for a green track to help them prepare for their upcoming tour of South Africa, and the seamers dominated a rain-affected Kolkata Test that seesawed rivetingly. A Suranga Lakmal-led Sri Lanka attack shot India out for 172 in the first innings, and then had them effectively 159 for 7 halfway through day five. Kohli, who had until then batted with a serenity that transcended the conditions, seized the moment with a flurry of breathtaking on-the-up drives and leg-side whips, and transformed the mood at Eden Gardens. In his time at the crease, Kohli scored 104 off 119 balls, while six wickets fell at the other end for 56 runs. When bad light brought an early end to the Test, it was to the relief of Sri Lanka, who were 75 for 7 in a chase of 231.
Virat Kohli’s 149 at Edgbaston in 2018 was his first Test century in England•Getty Images153 vs South Africa: Centurion, 2018
The next best score from his side was 46, the second innings altogether put on 151, and South Africa completed the series win despite all the anticipation and build-up from India. But for the 379 minutes that Kohli batted, anything seemed possible. Kohli brought India within striking distance of South Africa, but an AB de Villiers masterclass in the second innings denied them.
149 vs England: Edgbaston, 2018
Kohli’s first Test century in England. An innings that showcased his vulnerability at the beginning, followed by his tenacity to stay put, then his free-flowing and glorious strokeplay, and above all, his immense hunger to be one above his opponent. Just before lunch on August 2, 2018, Kohli walked into Edgbaston to vociferous boos from the England crowd after he had given an impolite send-off to Joe Root on the first day of the series. That was immediately followed by one of the most forensic examinations of his batting by England great James Anderson, who bowled 15 overs split by the lunch break to challenge Kohli’s defensive skills and his ego, inducing outside edges frequently, and thus creating one of the most engrossing and intimate battles seen between ball and bat in Test cricket. Of the 43 balls Kohli faced from Anderson that day, he had 41 dots, and scored just six runs.On 21, Kohli had nearly started to walk after poking at an Anderson away-going delivery, but Dawid Malan, at second slip, fluffed it. Anderson sank on his 36-year-old knees in pain and frustration. Kohli restarted, and never stopped. It did not matter to him that all of India’s specialist batters had left him to get India closer to England’s first-innings total of 287. Kohli buried his ego and let his bat talk as he was the last man out, with England’s lead being limited to 13 runs. Upon reaching three figures, Kohli pointed his finger to his head – as if to say how much temperament matters. Kohli would score a half-century in the second innings even as India lost the Test by 31 runs. His efforts were enough for him to uproot Steven Smith, and replace the Australian as the No. 1 Test batter in the ICC rankings, the first for an Indian since Sachin Tendulkar in 2011.
In Adelaide in 2020-21, Virat Kohli gave India a slight upper hand, before 36 all out happened•Getty Images123 vs Australia: Perth, 2018
Uneven bounce. Seam movement. High pace. Turn from the rough. An unrelenting attack. This pitch required the highest quality of batting. The next highest score in the whole match was 70. Fingers were broken, helmets were crashed, and collapses happened, but Kohli seemed like he was batting on a different surface in a different universe. Perhaps his best innings.
74 vs Australia: Adelaide, 2020-21
Before 36 all out, India had had a slight upper hand in the Adelaide Test of December 2020, and quite a bit of that was down to Kohli, who marked his first day-night Test at his favourite venue with an innings of technical virtuosity. On a day one pitch with spongy bounce, he largely shelved the full-blooded drive, and displayed beautiful balance at the crease and judgment around off stump, to construct what was then his second-slowest half-century, coming off 123 balls. The innings, together with gritty contributions from Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane, put India in a seemingly commanding position at 188 for 3, until a mix-up with Rahane cost Kohli his wicket and gave Australia just the opening they needed to bowl India out for 244.
