India has seen a lot of ups and downs under Virat Kohli’s captaincy in test cricket. In this article, we will look at five matches that will define Kohli’s legacy as India’s greatest test captain.
5 Matches That Will Define Virat Kohli’s Legacy As India’s Greatest Test Captain
1. Australia vs India, First Test 2014
Batting first, Australia posted a mammoth total of 517 runs, with India’s fast bowling department looking ineffective.
India got off to a solid start with 293/4, but a lot still needed to be done when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma came together to add 74 runs for the fifth wicket at a crucial point in time.
But as India looked in control, Rohit was dismissed, which triggered a collapse, with India losing their last five wickets for 77.
The Aussies set a daunting target of 364 runs for the India team to register a famous win, which they failed to do as the Virat Kohli-led side was bowled out for 315.
2. India vs Sri Lanka, Second Test 2015
Batting first, India posted a challenging total of 393 runs on a wicket that was conducive for spin, including a century from KL Rahul and fifties from Rohit, Kohli, and Saha.
The Virat Kohli-led side bowled Sri Lanka out for 306, courtesy of a disciplined bowling display by the Indian bowlers.
India capitalized on the 87-run lead and stretched it to 412. The target of 413 runs proved to be a bridge too far for Sri Lanka, as the home side was bowled out for 134 runs.
3. India vs Australia, Second Test 2017
The Virat Kohli-led side was bundled out for 189 runs on a difficult wicket in Bengaluru despite a fighting innings of 90 runs from KL Rahul.
In response, Australia scored 276 runs, gaining a more than crucial lead of 87 runs courtesy of a collective batting effort.
India were able to get to 274 runs in their second innings, thereby giving Australia a stiff target of 188 runs.
The Indian bowlers bowled their hearts out and restricted Australia to 112 runs, helping India register a come-from-behind win by 75 runs.
4. South Africa vs India, Third Test 2018
The third South Africa vs India test in 2018 was another instance when Virat Kohli, the leader, led from the front, this time with his actions.
The third final test was played on a wicket which had a lot of help for the bowlers, and the batters were fearful of getting hit.
But Kohli decided to continue as the Indian team batted on what was deemed to be a dangerous wicket and scored 247 runs in the second inning and won the match by 63 runs.
5. Australia vs India, Third Test 2018
The 2018 Boxing Day Test between Australia and India saw the latter register a much-needed win after the decision that captain Virat Kohli took of handing a debut to Mayank Agrawal in the middle of the series.
Along with it, the Shastri-Kohli duo also promoted Hanuma Vihari to open the innings, which was a huge risk.
The duo repaid the captain’s faith and fulfilled their role to perfection, with Mayank completing an attacking fifty.
The Indian team registered a comfortable win in the end, courtesy of a complete team effort, with bowlers finishing the job at hand.