5 of Virat Kohli's best Test knocks that have established his masterclass

Seldom have we seen an individual with such a precise blend of dedication and grit, eventually epitomizing a facet called “Perfection” in the most beautiful way possible. Every time we see this man Virat Kohli perform his heart out, it’s a clear indication that the national crest is deeply imbibed in his chest.

With yet another innings of a lifetime at Edgbaston, Indian skipper Virat Kohli added another feather to his glorious tally. After the great Sachin Tendulkar in 2011, he is the first Indian to reach the pinnacle of the batsman’s rankings in Tests and to say it was well-deserved would be such an understatement.

Although his Test career took some time to kick-start, once it did, he has been unstoppable. The English demons from the past were expected to haunt him in the ongoing tour, but he has worked on his flaws and looks better than ever before. A testament to his hard work is his footwork, which clearly has improved when compared to the 2014 tour.

It’ll be hard to pick a few good knocks from Kohli’s gallery, but there were some knocks which really were special. Let’s take a nostalgia trip down the memory lane and reminisce the five best Kohli knocks in the longest format.

1. 141 vs Australia, Adelaide Oval, December 2014

Hands down the finest innings that came from the bat of Virat Kohli! The Adelaide Oval witnessed something absolutely special from his willow and he almost managed to plunder the Kangaroos in their territory. Although India lost that game, Kohli’s twin centuries played a big role in scripting one of the finest Test matches ever played.

In response to Australia‘s 517 in the first innings, Kohli’s ton helped India fetch 444 runs. Michael Clarke declared the innings on 290/5 in the second innings, which meant India needed 364 runs to win the game inside 4 sessions. Everyone expected the visitors to play for a draw, but Kohli, who was captaining India in Tests for the first time, gave us a glimpse of what is to come in the future.

Playing for a draw is not a part of his curriculum and the skipper’s counter-attack shocked the hosts. Murali Vijay gave him great support at the other end and the duo was taming the Aussie bowlers. No one expected India to play for a victory and leading from the front there was the captain, who completed yet another hundred.

Once Vijay departed, the Indian middle order fell apart. The Delhi batsman nevertheless kept fighting and a miracle was well on cards. But as it turned out, the legend of Mitchell Johnson sabotaged his mission, eventually helping Australia win the game by 45 runs.