SA vs IND: Best XI of the Test series

4. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli was amongst the few names to watch out for during the series against South Africa. With a lot going against him with the recent change of leadership in the shorter format of the sport, there was a lot of talk about him. His recent form and the inability to reach his 71st century has also been a hot topic every time a series is around the corner.

It seemed like the Indian Test captain’s nemesis, the off-side-trap, caught up with him again. It is unfair to say that Virat Kohli had a dismal series as he spent a lot of time constructing his innings, looked extremely confident throughout, but eventually fished outside off, more often than not. A back spasm led to him missing the 2nd Test but his resilience in the third Test is what stood out in the three-match series.

A classic 79 off 201 balls in the first innings might be one of his hardest yet memorable innings. In the 273 minutes he was at the crease, Kohli kept the scoreboard ticking as he inched towards a much-awaited double-figure mark just to fall short of the batsmen at the other end and facing the majority of the deliveries. He continued this determination in the second innings scoring 29 off 143 deliveries.

In his 4 innings, Captain Kohli scored a total of 161 runs at an average of 40.25. While the last Test was a subject of controversy, he would have surely wanted to clinch the series conquering all the overseas conditions. For his courageous and determined innings with the bat and leading the Indian team to a historic win at Centurion, Virat Kohli is the fourth player in the combined XI.