In numbers: Virat Kohli leaves behind unique legacy as Indian test captain

Virat Kohli stunned the cricketing world on Saturday (January 15) when he announced his resignation as India’s Test captain.

Kohli had already relenquished the role in white-ball cricket, but was still seen as India’s best choice in the longest format of the game.

However, Kohli decided to step down after India lost the Test series to South Africa. He announced his decision via a statement on social media.

“It’s been seven years of hard work, toil, and relentless perseverance everyday. I have done the job with absolute honesty. Everything has come to a halt now at some stage and for me as Test captain of India,” he said in the statement.

“I have always believed in giving 120 percent to everything I do. If I cannot do it, I know it is not the right thing to do. I cannot be dishonest to the team.”

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— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 15, 2022

The 33-year-old, however, leaves behind an enviable record as Test captain. Here we look at a few notable numbers that defined his time as India’s Test skipper.

Virat Kohli: India’s most successful Test skipper

• Kohli is only the fourth captain after Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48) and Steve Waugh to have won at least 40 Tests as skipper. He registered his 40th win when India beat South Africa at Centurion during the recently-concluded series. Amazingly, he’s played the second-fewest number of Tests of these four with 68; only Waugh (57) played less.
• Kohli is also India’s most successful Test captain in terms of wins. The skipper in second place as far as Test wins goes is MS Dhoni; by comparison, he won only 27 Tests. The person after Dhoni on that list is current BCCI President Sourav Ganguly; ‘Dada’ won 21 Tests as skipper.
• Where India saw significant improvement under Kohli was in overseas Tests. Under Virat Kohli, India won 7 Tests in SENA countries and 16 Tests overall away from home.
• This run of away Test wins also saw Kohli lead India to a maiden Test series win in Australia. The 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy saw India emerge 2-1 winners, becoming the first Indian side in history to win a Test series Down Under.
• Kohli also has the unique distinction of being the only Indian skipper to win a Test at Centurion. It is telling that no other Indian captain has ever managed to beat South Africa at the venue.

While India’s Test team did also have a few lows, it is safe to say that Kohli’s time at the helm will be fondly remembered.