Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket. He gave this information through an Instagram post on Monday. Kohli scored 30 centuries in Tests, in which his best score was 254 not out. In this story, we will take a look at the 10 best innings of Virat’s 14-year Test career. 1. Kohli’s innings reminded Donald of Tendulkar, (2013)
During the 2013-14 season, India had to play four foreign series in 13 months. The first tour started with South Africa in December 2013. In the first innings of the first Test of the 2-match series, Kohli proved his form by scoring 119 runs. Regarding this innings, South Africa’s bowling coach at that time, Alan Donald, had said that ‘this innings reminds him of Tendulkar.’ In seaming conditions against Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, Kohli started leaving the ball to a great extent in the beginning and then started playing freely and targeted the spinners. In the second innings, he missed out on scoring a century by 4 runs. He was out on 96 runs. However, thanks to this brilliant innings of Kohli, India managed to draw the match. 2. Drawn Wellington Test by playing an innings of 105* runs, (2014)
In the test played in Wellington in 2014, at one time it seemed that India would win this match easily. But, Brendon McCullum played an innings of 302 runs in the second innings and the New Zealand team declared the innings on the score of 680/8 on the fifth day and gave India a target of 435 runs. It seemed that India would lose. After this, Kohli played brilliant shots all around the wicket and scored an unbeaten 105 runs, which reduced the pressure on India and they managed to draw the match. 3. Century in both innings in Adelaide, (2014)
Kohli went on a tour of Australia in 2014. MS Dhoni retired in the middle of the series. After this, Kohli was given the captaincy.
The Adelaide Test was Kohli’s first match as a regular Test captain. Kohli scored 115 runs in the first innings. After this, he scored 141 runs while chasing 364 runs in the second innings. But despite this, India lost the match by 48 runs. But this match was great for Kohli. 4. Scored 169 runs in 272 balls in the Melbourne Test, (2014)
Kohli made his mark by scoring two centuries in Adelaide. After this, Kohli played another brilliant innings in the Melbourne Test of the same series. Australia had scored 530 runs in the first innings, in response to which India needed a big partnership. Kohli along with Ajinkya Rahane made a partnership of 262 runs for the fourth wicket. Kohli scored 169 runs in 272 balls, which included 18 fours. The match was drawn, but Kohli’s innings was a great display of his captaincy ability. 5. First double century and beginning of dominance, (2016)
In the first Test of the West Indies tour in 2016, Virat scored the first double century of his Test career. At North Sound in Antigua, he scored 200 runs in 283 balls, which included 24 fours. His marathon innings helped India to score a big score in the first innings. India won this match easily and Kohli’s double century proved to be a turning point in his career. 6. 235-run innings against England, (2016)
In the fourth Test of England’s tour of India in 2016, Virat Kohli played a brilliant innings of 235 runs at the Wankhede Stadium, which was his best score in Test cricket at that time. Virat Kohli, batting on a pitch that was proving to be helpful for spin from the beginning, faced England’s spinners and fast bowlers very well. This helped the Indian team to win the innings victory and win the series. Kohli batted for almost nine hours. During this, he faced 340 balls, hitting 25 fours and a six. 7. Unbeaten century on grass pitch, (2017)
In 2017, a grass pitch was in Kolkata to prepare for the South Africa tour and the Sri Lankan team was in front. Team India was all out for 172 in the first innings. After this, Kohli scored an unbeaten 104 runs in 119 balls in the second innings. There Team India scored 352 runs. Sri Lanka’s score was 75/7 and the rain-affected match ended early on the last day due to poor light and was drawn. 8. Kohli’s first century in England, (2018)
This was Kohli’s first century in England. Kohli scored 149 runs in his first innings on his return to England, which helped him forget the disappointing 2014 tour where he could only score 134 runs in 10 innings. He also became the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to score a Test century at Edgbaston. Despite his brilliant batting, India lost the match by 31 runs. 9. Century on the difficult wicket of Perth, (2018)
In 2018, Kohli stood up to the bounce and speed of the Perth Test. He scored 123 runs with his bat. After him, the next best score in this match was 70 runs. In this match, the batsmen’s fingers were breaking, the ball was hitting the helmet, wickets were falling. But, looking at Kohli, it seemed as if he was batting on a different pitch. This was one of his best innings. 10. Scored 254* against South Africa, best Test innings, (2019)
In October 2019, Virat played the best innings of his Test career in the Pune Test against South Africa. He scored an unbeaten 254 off 336 balls and hit 33 fours and 2 sixes. He shared a long partnership with Ajinkya Rahane and took India to a big score of 601 runs. India won the match by an innings and 137 runs and Kohli’s innings was a testament to the greatness of his batting.
