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Virat Kohli's Test legacy: A look at his monumental milestones

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In an illustrious Test career spanning 14 long years, Virat Kohli has achieved the unthinkable, proving his critics wrong and setting (and breaking) numerous records in the process.

Kohli's unapologetic and uncompromising track record, both while delivering on the crease and wearing the captain’s thinking cap, has tallied up records in his favor.

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Here’s a look at some of Kohli’s finest milestones in an Indian jersey in the red-ball format

Most games as captain

The fact that Kohli captained India in 68 Test matches is, in itself, a testament to the legend’s endurance and temperament to withstand the trials of the most demanding format.



Most Test wins as skipper

In the 68 games he took charge, Kohli’s side only tasted defeat on 17 occasions. With 40 wins and 11 draws, Kohli’s win percentage stands at 58.82.

First captain to win a Test series in Australia

The No. 18 steered his side to a series win against the Aussies back in 2018-19 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He became the first Indian captain to achieve this feat on Australian soil.



No. 1 in Test Team Rankings

Kohli-led India remained at the summit of the ICC Test Team Rankings for five years in a row. From 2016 to 2021, the Men in Blue stayed atop the rankings, topping it off by reaching the final of the first-ever ICC World Test Championship.

Matching Ricky Ponting’s record

Under Kohli’s captaincy, India won 9 consecutive Test series, matching Australian icon Ricky Ponting’s record.



Highest score as Indian captain

Virat Kohli thriving in his role as captain is further propelled by the fact that his 254* against South Africa in 2019 is the highest-ever score by an Indian skipper in the format.

Most runs as Indian skipper

Virat Kohli’s 5864 runs as captain is also the highest among Indian skippers in Tests. The player stepped down from captaincy in 2022.

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Twin centuries on captaincy debut

The 36-year-old is the first and only Indian captain to hit twin centuries on their captaincy debut. Kohli scored 115 and then 141 in his captaincy debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (2014-15).

4th most runs in Tests for India

Only a few legends have managed to amass more runs than Kohli in Tests. Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Rahul Dravid are the only players to have scored more than the veteran, placing him in fourth spot.

Most centuries in a single overseas series

Kohli’s unmatched four hundreds scored in the 2014-15 tour of Australia remains an unmatched feat by any Indian.

With milestones and records littered across a glorious career, Kohli calls time on his journey as a Test cricketer, labelling it a decision that is ‘not easy, but feels right’. 9,230 runs and several more milestones later, Kohli retires as cricketing royalty.

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