7th December 2014 was the day when Virat Kohli led the Indian team for the first time in tests. He will be remembered as one of the best test captains ever. Virat Kohli left his test captaincy in 2022 after the South Africa tour. In this article, we will tell you all the records Virat Kohli made in his test captaincy tenure.
Virat Kohli Test Captaincy Record
- Virat Kohli is the fourth most successful captain in the history of tests. He has 40 test wins as captain which is highest by any Asian test captain.
- He was not only a great captain but also a great player. Virat was at his peak when he led team India in red ball cricket. He made 5864 runs as a test captain which is highest by any Asian test captain.
- Out of total test centuries Virat made 20 centuries when he was captain of the team. He made the second highest number of test centuries as a captain.
- Virat made 7 double centuries in tests as captain which is highest by any captain in the history of the format.
- Best part of Virat’s captaincy was his wins and the domination he showed on foreign soil. He was the only Indian captain who registered a minimum of 2 test wins in England, South Africa, and Australia.
- The 2019 Australia tour was historic in so many ways. The Indian team defeated Australia in the test series by 2-1 and Virat Kohli became the first Asian captain to win a test series in Australia.
- As I said earlier Virat made the Indian team one of the best of all time in tests. They won 7 test matches in SENA countries which is highest by any Asian captain.
- Virat ensured that home India should maintain its home domination and that’s why India faced zero test series defeats in his tenure from 2015 to 2021.
- Virat is also the only Indian captain who won 16 test matches outside India.
- India was the No.1 ranked test team for 49 months under his captaincy. It is a record on its own.
Key Achievements
- Historic Series Victories – Kohli led India to significant overseas victories, including back-to-back Test series wins in Australia (2018-19 and 2020-21), a feat that had never been accomplished before.
- Top Ranking – Under his leadership, India ascended to the No.1 position in the ICC Test rankings, reflecting their dominance during his captaincy.
- Batting Quality – As a captain, Kohli was also a prolific batsman, scoring 5,703 runs at an average of 54.35, including 20 centuries and 7 double centuries, which is the highest by any Test captain. His ability to perform under pressure complemented his leadership qualities.
Leadership Quality
Kohli’s captaincy was characterized by his intense passion and aggressive demeanor on the field. His approach often involved taking calculated risks, such as experimenting with team combinations and strategies that sometimes drew criticism but ultimately aimed at achieving victory. Former players noted that he transformed the mindset of Indian cricketers towards fitness and performance, making them more competitive on the global stage.
Conclusion
Virat Kohli’s legacy as India’s Test captain is defined by his remarkable win record, transformative leadership style, and commitment to elevating Indian cricket’s status globally. His tenure not only brought numerous accolades but also laid a foundation for future successes, making him one of the most influential figures in modern cricket history.
