Virat Kohli’s meteoric rise as Test captain was unprecedented. He scaled greater heights as a full-time captain post assuming captaincy in January 2015. His captaincy reign lasted for 7 years. He stepped in Adelaide as stand-in captain in MS Dhoni’s absence. His win-at-all-costs attitude was there for everyone to see. It was a precursor of what is it to come later. Kohli and his bunch went on to dominate Test cricket. Here is Virat Kohli Test Captaincy Record.
Virat Kohli Test Captaincy Record
He was Test cricket’s biggest ambassador. It was his driving ambition to see Test cricket stay not just afloat but remain the pinnacle of the sport. His love for Test cricket and the Indian team’s success helped India achieve tremendous success.
We look at Kohli’s Test captaincy journey from a statistical perspective:
#5 Captains leading in most Tests
Virat Kohli’s sudden resignation from Test captaincy sure has come as a shocker. But his longevity as a Test captain is right up there with the best in the business. Kohli’s numbers are on par with the best leaders of Test cricket. Graeme Smith, the South African captain tops the charts in leading his side the most number of times (109).
Allan Border (93), the Australian captain and Stephen Fleming (80) form the top 3 to have captained the side the most number of times. Kohli finds his place at number 6 on this list. He led India in 68 Tests, 8 clear of the next placed Indian captain, MS Dhoni (60 Tests).
#4 Maximum winning percentage as Test Captains:
Among the pantheons of Test captains, Virat Kohli’s name will always resonate loudly. His winning percentage (58.82%) is third among captains who have led the side in more than 50 Tests. He is easily ahead of MS Dhoni (45%), the other Indian captain to have led the side in more than 50 Tests.
Two legendary Australian captains dominate this list. Steve Waugh (71.93%) and Ricky Ponting (62.34%) are the two top names in this list. Kohli’s numbers are quite sensational. His numbers are even better than Graeme Smith (48.62%) and Clive Lloyd (48.65%).
#3 Most wins as Test Captain
Virat Kohli is easily India’s most successful Test captain. He has won 40 Tests out of the 68 he captained the side. Kohli is 13 clear of MS Dhoni (27 wins from 60 Tests). He is fourth on the list of captains with the most number of wins. Graeme Smith (53 wins from 109 Tests), Ricky Ponting (48 wins from 77 Tests), and Steve Waugh (41 wins from 57 Tests) are the three names above Kohli in this coveted list.
#2 Most double centuries as Test Captain
Virat Kohli hadn’t scored a double century until 2016. But come 2016 he was on a roll. He smashed 3 double centuries each in 2016 and 2017. His last double century as Test captain came in 2019 when he scored his Test-best of 254. Kohli holds the record for scoring most number (7) of double centuries as a Test captain. He headlines a list that features names like Brian Lara (5), Don Bradman (4), Michael Clarke (4), and Grace Smith (4).
#1 Highest winning percentage at home as Test Captain
India has always been a challenging team to tour at home. Not many visiting sides have tasted success in India. Nations like New Zealand, West Indies, and Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test in India this century. Home dominance is an often repeated cricketing term but not many captains can boast of a having record as stellar as Kohli does.
Mark Taylor, regarded as one of the shrewdest leaders has a win percentage of 62.9 at home. MS Dhoni (70%) is fourth in this distinguished list. One of the brilliant leaders, Ricky Ponting, has a win percentage of 74.3.
Steve Waugh, arguably one of the best Test captains, boasts of a win percentage of 75.9. It is here where Kohli’s home dominance shines. He has an insane winning percentage of 77.4! Kohli sure was a leader of men and he was certainly unmatchable at home.
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