Virat Kohli, one of India’s greatest Test batsmen, debuted in June 2011 and played 123 matches until his retirement in May 2025. As captain from December 2014 to January 2022, he led India to 40 Test victories. Kohli scored 9,230 runs, including seven double centuries, and holds numerous Test records.
1. Most successful Indian test captain (40 wins)
Virat Kohli took over as the captain of the Indian Cricket Team in Tests in December 2014, following MS Dhoni’s retirement from the longest format. Kohli led the team until January 2022, managing a total of 68 Test matches.
Under his leadership, the Indian team won 40 matches, lost 17, and 11 ended in a draw. With 40 victories, Kohli became the most successful Test captain in the history of Indian cricket. The next most successful captains are MS Dhoni, with 27 wins in 60 matches, and Sourav Ganguly, with 21 wins in 49 matches.
2. First Indian captain to win a test series on Australian soil
Undoubtedly, Kohli’s biggest achievement as India’s Test captain was winning a Test series in Australia. During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19, Kohli led the Indian team to a historic 2-1 victory in the four-match series, marking India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia.
In the series, India triumphed in the first and third Tests by 31 runs and 137 runs in Adelaide and Melbourne, respectively. Australia won the second Test by 146 runs in Perth. With the final Test in Sydney ending in a draw, Kohli and his team etched their names in history with this landmark victory on Australian soil.
3. Most double hundreds by an Indian batter (7)
Virat Kohli has scored 31 centuries in Test cricket across 210 innings, including seven double centuries, the most by any Indian batter to date. The next in line are legends Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, each with six double tons.
Kohli’s highest Test score is an unbeaten 254, made against South Africa in October 2019. He has also scored six other double centuries: 204 against Bangladesh, 235 against England, 211 against New Zealand, 200 against the West Indies, and 213 & 243 against Sri Lanka.
4. Most double hundreds by a captain (7)
Virat Kohli achieved an extraordinary feat by scoring all seven of his double centuries in Test cricket while serving as India’s captain. This makes him the record-holder for the most double centuries by a captain in the longest format, with seven. The next in line are Brian Lara (5), Don Bradman (4), Michael Clarke (4), and Graeme Smith (4).
Kohli’s seven double centuries were scored between July 2016 and October 2019. He led the Indian team from December 2014 to January 2022, and this rare achievement will remain a significant part of Test cricket history for years to come.
5. Highest rating points earned by an Indian in ICC batting rankings: 937 (2018)
In 2018, Virat Kohli was at his peak in Test cricket, amassing 1,322 runs across 24 innings at an impressive average of 55.08. He scored five centuries and five half-centuries that year, showcasing his exceptional form.
The next Indian on the list is Sunil Gavaskar, who reached 916 rating points in 1979. Only 11 players in history have reached 937 or more rating points in ICC’s Test rankings, with Don Bradman holding the record at 961 points.
