A look at Virat Kohli's five Test double tons

His ability to convert a hundred into an even bigger knock was under the scrutiny. He really found it difficult to not let his emotions ride high and get carried away after a ton. But no matter what he did, Virat Kohli often got dismissed in a peculiar way after touching the three digits, which disappointed the experts a lot.

Fans would always be happy as most of his centuries did the job for their side, but the ones who read the game well would understand he is capable of doing a lot more. Perhaps that tiny lapse of concentration that comes in with a satisfaction of scoring a century might’ve been the reason. This ain’t a new phenomenon observed only in Virat Kohli, many in the past have faced it.

Legendary Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga’s highest score in Test match cricket is 135, which certainly is hard to believe. Mark Waugh’s best score in Tests is 153 and surprisingly, his highest ODI score is 173. Although many believed Kohli will never fall under this list, there was an element of doubt which took a lot of time to vanish and much to the delight of the fans, Kohli started playing the marathon knocks which he is well capable of.

In the last 16 months, Kohli has amassed a total of 5 double centuries and many believe the great Sir Donald Bradman’s record of 12 double tons is in grave danger. The hunger of the man to keep scoring and scoring without getting carried away even once throws light at his dedication, which indeed touches stratospheric heights if there is anything that can measure it.

Kohli notched his fifth double ton on Sunday and on this eve, let’s take a look at all five of his double centuries, out of which four came on winning occasions and the result of the other is yet to be decided.

1. 200 vs West Indies, Antigua, July 2016

He couldn’t have chosen a much trickier location to bring up his first double-century, but the dearth of quality in the Windies bowling attack helped his cause. Kohli played some crunchy shots throughout his innings and with the help of 24 boundaries, he scored 200 runs in 283 balls. Batting on Antigua’s track is no less than an adventure, but Kohli’s masterclass made the pitch look flat. Without a shadow of a doubt, his first double-ton was the best he has scored thus far.

2. 211 vs New Zealand, Indore, October 2016

The second one didn’t take a lot of time to come from Kohli’s willow, which was in a malicious mood to make the bowlers toil. This innings against New Zealand was well-calculated and patiently achieved with the help of Ajinkya Rahane as the duo added a 365-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Once again, Kohli didn’t opt to hit a six even once in the entire inning and amassed 211 runs off 366 balls with the help of 20 fours.

3. 235 vs England, Mumbai, December 2016

India was in a spot of bother at 364/7, still 36 behind England‘s first innings total. They were left clueless at that position and the best result they could’ve reaped from there was a draw. But Kohli stitched a mammoth partnership with the number 9 Jayant Yadav and screwed the English hopes of turning the tables around in the series. This was a special double-ton he had a mountain to climb with no good support left, yet, he scored a sensational 235 off 340 balls to propel the Indians to 631 in their first innings. They managed to win the game by an innings and 36 runs.

4. 204 vs Bangladesh, Hyderabad, February 2017

The easiest of all his double centuries came against the neighbours Bangladesh at Hyderabad. Effervescent strokeplay, authoritative approach and a composed head, this was just a case of the player being over-qualified for the opponents. There wasn’t an occasion in the entire innings where he didn’t dictate terms and eventually, he became the first player to score four double centuries in four successive series. Kohli ended up scoring 204 off just 246 balls, which includes 24 boundaries.

5. 213 vs Sri Lanka, Nagpur, November 2017

Another dominant knock from the skipper, very much reminiscent of the double-ton against Bangladesh. He was hitting the ball wherever and whenever he wanted, making a mockery of the Islanders’ bowling lineup. He stitched two brilliant stands with Pujara and Rohit Sharma, which helped him collect 213 runs off just 267 balls with a strike-rate just a whisker under 80. India finds themselves in a dominant position to win this game as well.