Top 5 Virat Kohli Test innings of all time — From Perth 100* to the iconic 254* in Pune

The Virat Kohli red-ball era has been nothing but a whirlwind of emotions, dramatic moments, and sheer batting brilliance. Regarded as one of the best batters to have played the game, Kohli changed the thought process of Indian cricket, particularly on strenuous overseas tours. His ruthless approach, sound technique, and presiding when everyone else collapsed made him unique.

After battling narration with brutal pace on bouncy pitches or turning big starts into mammoth double hundreds at home, King Kohli has etched countless memories for cricket lovers. The following are the top 5 Test innings of Virat Kohli, which have been the career-defining performances of him—a legend of the game. 

1. 141 vs Australia, Adelaide (2014)

Here was the match when Virat Kohli, the Test captain, came into existence. Substitute Kohli, who was filling in for the ailing MS Dhoni, did the unthinkable on the fifth day. Fourth innings target: 364 runs. Batting for draws is what most teams do when there is a big fourth innings target, but when you really want to win, you back off a bit. But Virat had other plans.
He rose to the challenge and took the Australian bowling attack to the cleaners with a stunning 141 off 175 balls. Alongside Murali Vijay, he took India to within a whisker of a historic triumph. The 48-run loss after a stunning batting collapse in the end didn’t take away from what was to become the hallmark of India’s fear-free attitude under his captaincy.

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2. 149 vs England, Edgbaston (2018)

Before 2018, English critics kept banging the drums about Kohli's 2014 tour, where he found it difficult to play the moving ball. The pressure was tremendous, and as India slumped to 100/5 in the first Test, old ghosts began to materialize.

What followed was pure redemption. Kohli was a lone skirmisher as he struggled to find help from the rest of the batting lineup that was let loose by James Anderson and Ben Stokes. He supported the tail-enders to make a gritty 149 runs for the loss of 8 wickets, single-handedly bringing India near to England's total. He celebrated by releasing all the pent-up tension and proving he could conquer conditions anywhere in the world.

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3. 123 vs Australia, Perth (2018)

The old Perth pitch was renowned for its terrifying bounce, and the new one at Optus Stadium in 2018 was no different. On a green mamba of a pitch, where batsmen were trembling against the brutal pace of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood, Kohli was pure gold

He scored an impeccable 123, displaying remarkable composure and leaving the ball in the right areas outside the off-stump. Every boundary he hit was either a textbook cover drive or a crisp flick. Though India lost the match, Justin Langer would later describe it as one of the best Test hundreds he had ever seen.

4. 254* vs South Africa, Pune (2019)

 By 2019, Kohli had developed a reputation for his ability to manage huge double hundreds, but the 254* against South Africa in Pune that year was the absolute pinnacle of that at home. Marking his 50th Test game as the Indian captain, Kohli decided to make it extra special.

He batted for almost eight hours with exquisite concentration, eating up 336 balls and not allowing the Proteas bowlers to get even an inch. He totally tired out an attack that included Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje. This career-best inning helped India post a huge total and then a comfortable innings and a 137-run victory. 

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5. 100* vs Australia, Perth (2024)

It’s difficult to score a test 100 in Australia, but to do so at the twilight of your career in the midst of a long lean patch, well, that takes a champion’s mindset. In the opening Test of the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth, Kohli rolled back the years.
India was going to need a big lead in the second innings, and Kohli delivered right on cue.

He was very patient early in the innings and wore out the bowlers before using his trademark attacking strokes. His unbeaten 100 was also his 30th Test century, a classic knock that shut all naysayers and ensured a memorable victory for India on foreign soil.

Legacy: Virat Kohli completed his Test career with over 9,000 runs and 30 centuries. Over and above the numbers, he will always be remembered for turning Indian cricket into a culture of dominating Test matches abroad.