Virat Kohli is one of the most inspirational captains to have led the Indian team, especially in the red-ball format. He was known for his passionate and never-say-die attitude.
Kohli’s energy rubbed off on his teammates, and some of India’s best results in Test matches have come thanks to his astute leadership skills. The charismatic batsman gave up captaincy in T20Is and Tests, while he was also removed from the captaincy in 50-over cricket soon after.
Under his leadership, India won 40 out of 68 Tests, making the Delhi-born the most successful Indian captain in red-ball international cricket. Meanwhile, in 95 ODIs, the legendary cricketer led the Indian team to victory in 65 matches. In T20Is, India have won 30 out of 50 matches played under the star cricketer’s captaincy.
Take a look at the 3 biggest defeats of Kohli’s career
1. T20 World Cup 2021
Kohli had announced his decision to step down from India’s T20I captaincy ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. The Indian team failed to reach the knockout stage and also suffered their first defeat in the World Cup against arch-rivals Pakistan. After the big event, Kohli stepped down from captaincy of the shortest format of the game. After this, Rohit Sharma took over the role full-time.
2. WTC Final 2021
The first edition of the World Test Championship ran from 2019 to 2021. In the final, India took on New Zealand at The Rose Bowl in Southampton in June. The Kiwis won the match by eight wickets, chasing a target of 140 runs in the fourth innings. The Indian bowlers performed well in favorable conditions, but the batting let them down.
3. India tour of South Africa 2021-2022
India had a great start to their South Africa tour in 2021-2022. They won the first Test at Centurion by 113 runs. However, in the next two Tests in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa registered identical seven-wicket wins. Kohli had announced his decision to quit captaincy in the longer format a day after the series ended.
After this, Rohit took charge of the Indian team in all formats of the game. In Test matches, Rohit’s captaincy experience was good but nowhere near Kohli’s performance during his time there. The Mumbai-born Rohit captained India in 24 Test matches, winning 12 of them.
FAQ
What happened in the WTC Final 2021?
India lost to New Zealand in the World Test Championship Final at Southampton. Kohli’s team struggled with the bat, and the loss was seen as a missed opportunity for a major ICC trophy.
Why was the T20 World Cup 2021 loss significant?
India failed to reach the semi-finals, losing key matches to Pakistan and New Zealand. It was Kohli’s last tournament as T20 captain and a major blow to India’s white-ball campaign.
What happened during the South Africa Test series in 2021-22?
India lost the Test series 2-1 despite winning the first match. The defeat was disappointing as South Africa was considered a weaker side in transition.
Did Virat Kohli resign or was he removed from captaincy?
Virat Kohli stepped down voluntarily as T20 captain first, then was replaced as ODI captain, and later resigned as Test captain after the South Africa series loss.