Top 3 performances of Virat Kohli in Tests

Virat Kohli will be celebrating his 37th birthday on November 5, 2025. He was born on this day in 1988 in Delhi to Saroj and Premnath Kohli. He got his cricketing education from Rajkumar Sharma and later led the India U19 team to the Youth World Cup win in 2008.

He made his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bengaluru the same year and for India as well, against Sri Lanka at Dambulla. He had to wait for his Test debut till 2011, which came in Kingston against the West Indies, while his T20I debut for India came in 2010 against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Virat Kohli went on to make 9230 runs at an average of 46.85 in 123 Tests, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, with the highest score of 254*. He captained India from 2014 to 2022 in Tests and from 2016 to 2021 in white-ball cricket. He captained India in 60 Tests, winning 48 of them, kept India as the no. 1 Test side for five straight years, and took India to the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final in 2021.

Here are the top 3 performances of Virat Kohli in tests:

3. 115 & 141 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2014

This was Virat Kohli’s first Test as full-time India captain in the format, and he faced a formidable Australian side in Adelaide. Australia batted first and posted 517/7d, with David Warner (145), Michael Clarke (128), and Steve Smith (162*) scoring centuries. India managed a good response, scoring 444 runs, with Virat Kohli scoring 115 and Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane scoring fifties.

In the second innings, Australia made 290/5d, thanks to 102 by David Warner, setting India 364 runs. Murali Vijay gave a good start with 99, but it was Virat Kohli, who made 141 with 16 fours and one six, who tried his best to keep India in the chase. But India folded for 315 and lost by 48 runs.

2. 149 vs England, Birmingham, 2018

Another of Virat Kohli’s best knocks overseas came in a losing cause. England had never been a good hunting ground for Virat Kohli, which was highlighted by his 134 runs in 10 innings in the 2014 series. However, a different Kohli came to England in 2018, leading the Indian team.

This match was played in Birmingham and saw England post 287 runs in the first innings, with Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow scoring fifties. India responded with 274, with only Virat Kohli standing tall with 149 with 22 fours and one six. It was an innings to remember for Kohli, who dispelled the ghosts of 2014 and showed his might with the bat in front of a British audience.

1. 254* vs South Africa, Pune, 2019

Virat Kohli’s highest Test score came in the second Test between India and South Africa in Pune in 2019. India won the toss and batted first, hammering 601/5d. Mayank Agarwal made 108, but the Indian innings belonged to Virat Kohli, who made 254* in 336 balls with 33 fours and two sixes.

It was a sublime knock that took away all the wind from the Proteas bowling that included Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Keshav Maharaj. South Africa managed 275 and 189 runs to lose the game by an inning and 137 runs.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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