India’s terrific home season had a huge contribution of the Indian skipper Virat Kohli
Nowadays, there is a constant news about Virat Kohli. The man who is above all in terms of scoring runs at will. He is at the top of his batting graph in terms of his Test career. Before the Sri Lanka series, Virat was ranked 7th in ICC Test Batsmen rankings. In the first innings, he got out for a duck.No one could have predicted what was going to come next, not even Kohli himself. He scored 610 runs in the remaining 5 innings. His stellar return has seen him propelled to the second spot in the ICC’s Test Batsmen Rankings.
As on 08 Dec 2017 Source: espncricinfo
Kohli’s incredible run of form in this series included a hundred, and two double hundreds. In the Delhi Test, where the Lankan fielders were struggling to breathe, he played 287 balls and did not look in any discomfort.
In fact, he scored his fastest century and double century in the course of his innings. He scored his highest score of 243. He even looked on course to get his first triple hundred. But he became a victim of loss of concentration due to stoppage of play due to pollution.
610 is the 4th highest run-aggregate in a 3-match Test series and highest by an Indian. After the 2nd Test, he rose to No.5 in the ICC Test Rankings. In the 3rd Test, his highest score enabled him to become the second-best in Tests, only behind Steve Smith.
Virat Kohli has moved up three places to second spot in the ICC rankings for Test batsmenhttps://t.co/v7nmrOSMKG pic.twitter.com/drvzuETfed
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 7, 2017
Considering his recent home season run in Tests, if he delivers such amazing performances in South Africa, England and Australia; he will be the next No. 1 Test batsman.
It has been a long time since an Indian batsman was at the top of Test rankings.
Author’s take
Virat has shown his potential and good form in Test cricket in the long home season. It is now on his shoulders to prove that he is not only a subcontinent batsman and can deliver in all playing conditions.
India have tough tours ahead. Virat; and Pujara who is the only other Indian in ICC’s Test Batsmen Rankings, have to deliver in South Africa, England and Australia if they have to beat them in their homes.
