Virat Kohli after his final Test century in Perth, 2024. PC- AFP
There was a Gavaskar, who showed the world his teeth. There was a Tendulkar, who got the world in his awe. Then came Virat Kohli, who conquered the world. Although Kohli had the fewest number of Test runs among the three generational Indian batters, his legacy as a Test cricketer is equally cherished.
Debuted in Tests in Kingston back in June 2011, Virat Kohli not only became the poster boy of the Indian Test team but also ruled the world of cricket with his lionhearted character and intrepid batting. Surely, he had his limitations in technique and less-dominant backfoot play - two things that were exploited to the limit in England 2014 and BGT 2024/25, which eventually became VK's farewell.
However, despite all that, Kohli mastered the art with his sheer hardwork to become one of the greatest batters of his generation. He could not break the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket, but the Virat Kohli legacy goes much beyond that.
In this article, let us talk about five unbreakable records that Virat Kohli still holds one year after hanging up his boots from the longest format.
Top Five Virat Kohli’s Test Records
5) Most double centuries as captain
Virat Kohli took over India's Test captaincy from MS Dhoni in late 2014, before assuming the role full-time in 2015. Within one year of becoming the Indian Test captain, Kohli got into the purplest form of his life.
On the tour of the West Indies in July 2016, the Chasemaster, as they call him, slammed his maiden double century in Tests at North Sound. That season, he scored two more double tons - 211 vs New Zealand (Indore, October 2016) and 235 vs England (Mumbai, December 2016).
In 2017, Kohli mastered the art of notching daddy hundreds, hitting four more double centuries - 204 vs Bangladesh at Hyderabad, 213 vs Sri Lanka, Nagpur, 243 vs Sri Lanka, Delhi & 254* vs South Africa at Pune.
No captain has ever hit as many double hundreds in the illustrious history of Test cricket, with the next best on the list being Brian Lara with five double hundreds. This remains the top Virat Kohli’s Test Record that can't be broken.
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4) Most centuries as captain for India
Virat Kohli led India in Tests for seven glorious years, during which he reached new heights as a captain. However, along with his captain, his batting also outshone as he had remained the backbone of India's batting throughout his career.
He led India in 68 Tests, with his first as captain coming in Adelaide back in 2014. Kohli started off his captaincy career with twin centuries, but India lost that match by a slim margin. However, it was just the start of something magical.
Before quitting the Test captaincy in 2022, he had hit 20 centuries, in 113 innings, while leading India marvellously. The next best to Kohli is the legendary Sunil Gavaskar with 11 tons (74 innings) and Mohammad Azharuddin for 9 hundreds (68 innings). The is one of the top Virat Kohli’s Test Records that can't be broken.
3) Best winning percentage
Virat Kohli took over India's captaincy when they were ranked seventh in the ICC Rankings, but under him, they not only rose to the number one spot but also remained there for five straight years. Kohli led India in 68 Test matches and created an indispensable unit that never lost at home and gave tough fights to the opposition overseas.
Under his astute leadership, India won their first-ever Test series in Australia, defeated West Indies and Sri Lanka, and levelled a series vs England. Under Kohli, India had won 40 Tests with a winning percentage of 58.82 - the best for any India captain with substantial experience. This Virat Kohli’s Test Record can't really be challenged.
2) Most Test Centuries in Australia by an Indian batter
Virat Kohli, the Test batter, toured Australia on five different occasions. Interestingly, it was on the Australian soil that Kohli turned from being a chubby boy into a man. He first announced himself at the Test level at W.A.C.A by scoring 75 runs in tough conditions. A 23-year-old Kohli made himself a household name in the very next game, slamming his maiden Test century at Adelaide.
On the next tour, Kohli had hit four record centuries in as many games. Then, on the subsequent series, when India won its first-ever series in Australia, the then captain scored a century on a tough Perth wicket.
In his next visit to Australia, Kohli missed another hundred by just 26 runs, and then flew back home on paternity leave after playing just one game.
Although he started his final Australia tour with a century, again in Perth, the BGT 2024/25 became unforgettable for the legendary batter, who got dismissed identically throughout the series. Overall, he had hit seven Test centuries on the Australian shores - the most by an Indian batter, even one more than the great Sachin Tendulkar. It is highly unlikely to break this Virat Kohli Test record.
1) Most matches as captain
Virat Kohli represented India in 123 Test matches, leading his country in 68 of them. As he grew through the ranks, Kohli became the most successful Indian captain ever. Statistically, the Indian star remained third to Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh in terms of victories.
Meanwhile, no captain has led India more than Kohli in Tests. With the number of Test matches decreasing, the probability of breaking this record becomes even tougher.
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