Top 6 best innings by Virat Kohli in test cricket

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from test Cricket on May 12, 2025.

On May 12, 2025, Virat Kohli shocked the world when he announced his retirement from test cricket. It has brought an end to one of the best test cricket careers that the game has ever seen. From an over-aggressive batter to India’s best-ever test captain, Virat has it all.

Under his captaincy, India were totally different beasts and were at the top of the ICC test team rankings for 4 to 5 years on the trot. He was an incredible captain, but his success as a batter is second to none.

He achieved many records and feats as a batter, and it was a career of countless impactful knocks. Here we will talk about his six best innings he played in his test career.

Top 6 best innings by Virat Kohli in test cricket

1. 119 & 96 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2013

On his very first test tour of South Africa, Virat Kohli made an impression straight away. In the first game of the 2013 tour in Johannesburg, he had two brilliant innings. It was a close-fought draw, and Virat made the difference.

He scored 119 in the first innings and followed it up with 96 in the second. India scored 280 and 421. He was up against the trio of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, and Morne Morkel. Apart from him, only Pujara registered a 50+ score.

2. 115 & 141 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2014

Virat Kohli was one of the finest test captains ever and showed it in his very first few games. In 2014 at Adelaide, he took over the captaincy when MS Dhoni was injured and slammed two centuries in the game. He slammed 115 and 141 in two innings.

His 141 came when India were chasing 364. He got out at 304, and India were bowled out for 315, losing by 48 runs. But his aggressive style of play caught the attention of the world.

3. 235 vs England, Mumbai, 2016

Virat Kohli holds the record for most double centuries as a captain in test cricket. One of those came against England in 2016 at the Wankhede Stadium. He slammed 235 off 340 balls, with 25 fours and one six on the pitch, which was turning very much.

But he showed a masterclass against spin and went on to slam a memorable double century to help India reach 631. England were bowled out for 400 and 195, handing India a win of an innings and 36 runs.

4. 149 vs England, Edgbaston, 2018

Virat Kohli had a disastrous tour of England in 2014. He was easy prey for the English bowlers in swinging conditions. But he shut down all the critics with a stunning hundred in the very first game of the 2018 tour in Edgbaston.

Against the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Sam Curran, he scored a counter-attacking 149 off 225 balls, with 22 fours and one six, which was his first test ton in England. He scored 51 in the second innings as well, but India fell short by 31 runs eventually.

5. 153 vs South Africa, Centurion, 2018

One of Virat’s finest overseas tons came at Centurion in 2018 on a pitch that was spitting venom. He faced the pace attack of Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Vernon Philander and slammed 153 off 217 balls, with 15 fours.

It was an innings full of authority when no Indian batter scored a 50 in two innings. Though India lost the game, it was a memorable knock by the then Indian captain.

6. 254 vs South Africa, Pune, 2019

Virat Kohli’s highest score in test cricket came against South Africa in Pune in 2019. He batted for nearly eight hours and went on to score an unbeaten 254 off 336 balls, with 33 fours and two sixes. His knock helped India reach 601/5 before declaring the innings.

South Africa were then bowled out for 275 and 189 as India won the game by an innings and 137 runs. This was his seventh double century in tests.

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