Virat
Kohli on Saturday stepped down from Test captaincy after leading India for
seven years. Kohli led India for the first time during India’s 2014-15
Australia tour. As he has taken a call on his illustrious Test captaincy stint
with India, Opoyi takes a look at the five magnificent feats that he achieved
over the years. 

Also Read: Who will be India’s next Test captain as Virat Kohli steps down?

India beat South Africa in
Johannesburg Test, 2018

In
2018, India lost the first two Tests of the Freedom Series against South
Africa. Virat Kohli’s team went to Johannesburg with the hope to avoid a 3-0
whitewash against the Proteas. The visitors batted first and conceded a
seven-run lead in the first innings. Kohli top-scored for India with a patient
54, and in doing so, became the leading run-scorer as India’s captain in the longest
format. Defending 241 in the fourth innings, India dismissed the hosts for just
177 to register a famous 63-run win on a pitch that proved to be extremely
dangerous for batsmen.

Also Read: Virat Kohli steps down as India Test captain

India won the first Test series in
Australia

It
was on January 7, 2019, when India registered their first-ever series win on
Australian soil. Virat Kohli was the captain. The fourth Test of the four-match
series ended in a draw between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground
(SCG), and as a result, India went on to register a 2-1 win in the series.

In
the four-match series, Virat Kohli-led India recorded a victory in the first
and third Tests. The visitors won the first Test at Adelaide by 31 runs, while
they recorded a win in the third Test by 137 runs at the Melbourne Cricket
Ground (MCG).

Also Read: Virat Kohli steps down as Test captain: A look at his captaincy record in Tests

After
winning the first match, India lost the second Test by 146 runs, and the series
was levelled at 1-1. But Kohli’s team managed to win the third Test, to tilt
the balance in their favour.

India took 2-1 lead in England

India
beat England in the fourth Test match at The Oval in 2021, taking a 2-1 series
lead after their hosts collapsed from 2-141 to 6-147 midway through the fifth
and final day. That torpedoed England’s hopes of achieving a famous victory and
shortly after tea on Monday, India wrapped up a 157-run success. India won the
second Test by 151 Tests while England levelled the series at Headingley by an
innings and 76 runs. The fifth Test was cancelled due to the threat of
COVID-19.

Also Read: WTC points table: Where do India stand after series defeat against South Africa?

Kohli won four overseas Tests in a
calendar year

Kohli
is the only Indian captain to achieve the feat twice. Incidentally, it was
under Kohli’s captaincy when India achieved the feat for the first time as
well. India won Tests in Brisbane, Lord’s, Oval, and Centurion in one year,
equalling the feat in 2018 when India began their away win campaign in
Johannesburg, Nottingham, Adelaide, and Melbourne.

Also Read: Got carried away: Virat Kohli on Dean Elgar DRS controversy at Newlands

Most wins by Asian captain
in SENA countries

India’s victory in Centurion Test was the seventh
under Kohli in 23 Tests (Lost 13 and drawn 3) the most by an Asian Captain in
SENA countries.  In overseas Tests, Kohli
has won 16 out of 36 Tests