Virat Kohli turns 31: The flamboyant batsman's journey as Test captain

MS Dhoni shocked world by anuncing his retirement from red-ball cricket with immediate effect after Boxing day Test at MCG in 2014. With Test ending in a draw, India lost  series to Australia. This was ir fourth series loss in a row in Australia following losses in South Africa, New Zealand, and England.

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India h won only one Test out of 12 y played in preceding 12 months on ir away tours to 'SENA' countries. y were reeling at seventh position in ICC Test rankings only ahe of West Indies, Banglesh and Zimbabwe.

responsibility of lifting India from this grey patch in Test cricket lied in hands of Virat Kohli. He h alrey established himself as best white-ball batsman in world.  cricketing community got a taste of his leership skills immediately when he stood as a stand-in captain in first Test in elaide. Unlike Dhoni, he surprised everyone as he went for an unlikely win on final day chasing 364 and he nearly pulled off a miracle before falling short by 48 runs.

India's most successful Test captain

Five years after taking over captaincy mantle, he took India to top of ICC rankings, won back-to-back series in Sri Lanka and West Indies and became first captain from Asian sub-continent to win a series in Australia. In August, Kohli surpassed Dhoni to become most successful Indian Test captain. 30-year-old Kohli h 27 wins to his name before second Test match against West Indies, but with win, Kohli took his tally to 28 wins in longest format of game. He w has 29 wins from 49 matches as Test skipper. Dhoni h won 27 out of 60 matches he captained.

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Kohli has won 31 tests out of 51. He is also India's most successful captain in away Tests winning 13 matches overseas. Of his 31 wins, 18 have come at home, five in Sri Lanka, four in Caribbean, two in Australia and one each in South Africa and England.

Out of India's top 20 Test wins by runs margin, ten have come under Kohli including four of top five. India have won two overseas Tests by a 300-plus margin, both under Kohli, 318 runs in rth Sound in 2019 and 304 runs in Galle in 2017.

Flourish in batting performance:

His captaincy has only bettered his batting. His aver shoots up to 61 as captain compared to 41 as a player. Only Imran Khan and Graham Gooch h a higher difference in avers in men's cricket.

What lies ahe?

Kohli will be captain India for first time in New Zealand in a two-Test series next year. To win series in South Africa and England will be his goals alongside winning maiden ICC Test Championship in 2021.

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