The records achieved during Kohli’s stunning Test career

By Anuraag Prashanth

Virat Kohli, a modern-day great and one of the most prolific batters in the history of Test cricket, announced his retirement from the longest format of the game at the age of 36.

Over a career spanning nearly 14 years, Kohli has etched his name in the annals of cricket history with remarkable records, unforgettable knocks and outstanding leadership milestones.

From his debut in 2011 to becoming one of India's most successful captains, Kohli's journey has left an indelible mark on the longest format of the game.

Kohli's unmatched consistency and technique made him a mainstay in India's batting lineup for over a decade.

Here, we take a look at some of the record-breaking numbers from the veteran batter’s time in whites for India.

Virat Kohli stood tall with his 30th and final Test century of his career against Australia at Perth during the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Leadership and captaincy milestones

Kohli captained India in 68 Test matches - the highest by any Indian - and suffered defeat in only 17 of them, translating to a loss rate of just 25 percent.

With 40 wins and 11 draws, he boasts a remarkable win percentage of 58.82 percent, making him the most successful Test captain in India's history.

Notably, Kohli also led India to their first-ever Test series victory on Australian soil in the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Kohli-led India also held the No.1 spot on the ICC Test Team Rankings for five straight years from 2016 to 2021, and made it to the final of the first-ever ICC World Test Championship in 2021.

Virat Kohli kisses the trophy after clinching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018/19 Down Under

Matching Australian great Ricky Ponting

Between 2015 and 2017, he led India to nine consecutive Test series victories, equaling Ricky Ponting's record.

In his captaincy debut during the 2014/15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli scored 115 and 141 in the two innings in Adelaide against Australia, becoming the first Indian captain to achieve twin centuries on captaincy debut.

Notably, he is the only captain to have scored seven double centuries in Test matches.

Kohli also owns the record for the highest score by an Indian captain in Tests - 254* vs South Africa (2019), and also boasts the most centuries as an Indian captain with 20 (only South Africa's Graeme Smith has more with 25 in the all-time list).

Apart from this, the veteran batter has amassed the most runs as India captain, with 5864 runs coming across 68 Tests at a jaw-dropping 54.80 average.

Memorable quote

"For 60 overs, they should feel hell out there."

This legendary quote from the then India skipper at Lord's in 2021, before the visitors bowled out England for just 120 in 51.5 overs while defending 272 is a testament to his high-octane and relentless style of cricket as captain.

Kohli’s record with the bat in Tests

Kohli amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Test matches, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer for India, trailing only fellow Indian all-time greats Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.

His tally includes 30 centuries - placing him 16th on the all-time list and fourth among Indians once again.

Kohli also holds the record for the most double centuries (seven) by an Indian in Test cricket, with the last coming against South Africa in 2019, where he notched up his highest-ever Test score of 254* in Pune.

Surpassing Sachin Down Under

Kohli is the only Indian to score seven Test centuries in Australia, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

During the 2014/15 tour of Australia, Kohli became the first Indian to score four centuries in a single overseas Test series.

In the 2016–17 home season, Kohli was in exceptional form, scoring 1,059 runs - the highest by an Indian in a single home season. His performances played a pivotal role in India securing series victories over strong opponents such as England, New Zealand, and Australia.

Kohli also finishes off his caeer as the 12th highest run-getter in the World Test Championship, with 2617 runs across 47 Tests - trailing only Rohit Sharma, who recently announced his Test retirement as well - among Indians.

Other records that Kohli has achieved with the willow:

• Most runs in a calendar year by an Indian batter - 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2023
• Double centuries in consecutive series: 4
• Highest rating points earned by an Indian in ICC Men’s Test Batter Rankings: 937 (2018)