5 Milestones That Virat Kohli Missed In Test Cricket

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Virat Kohli [Source: @HomeOfCricket/x.com]Virat Kohli [Source: @HomeOfCricket/x.com]

Virat Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, leaves behind a legacy of excellence with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 across 123 Tests. Despite his remarkable achievements, including 30 centuries and the status as India's most successful Test captain with 40 wins, there were a few milestones that remained beyond his grasp. These unfulfilled achievements provide a fascinating glimpse into the career of one of cricket's modern greats.

1. Elusive 10,000 Test Runs

Kohli's retirement leaves him tantalizingly short of the prestigious 10,000-run mark in Test cricket. With 9,230 runs, he finished as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. The milestone has been achieved by only 13 players in Test history, and despite his prolific run-scoring ability, Kohli will not join this elite club.

2. No Century at Lord's Cricket Ground

The 'Home of Cricket' remained unconquered territory for Virat Kohli. Despite his ability to score centuries in challenging conditions worldwide, Lord's proved to be his nemesis. In six innings at the iconic venue, he managed just 127 runs at a poor average of 21.17, denying him the honor of having his name etched on the prestigious Lord's Honours Board.

3. Never Claimed a Test Wicket

While primarily known for his batting, Kohli occasionally bowled medium pace in limited-overs cricket. However, in Test cricket, he never took a wicket. This small but notable gap in his all-round capabilities stands out in a career otherwise marked by completeness and versatility.

4. No Test Series Win in England as Captain

For all his success as India's captain, Kohli could not lead the team to a Test series victory in England. While India had some memorable individual Test match wins in England under his leadership, a series triumph in English conditions remained an unfulfilled dream, denying him complete mastery over all cricketing territories as captain.

5. Missed Out on the World Test Championship

Kohli led India to the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021, the culmination of two years of excellence in the format. However, India lost to New Zealand in that crucial match, denying Kohli what would have been a fitting crown to his Test leadership career.

In 2023 WTC final, Kohli was a part of the Indian team as a player. The Rohit Sharma-led side this time lost the final to Australia. Thus Kohli does not have a WTC Championship under his belt, neither as a skipper nor as a player. 

Conclusion

Despite these unfulfilled achievements, Kohli's Test career remains one of the most distinguished in cricket history. These gaps serve not as criticism but as a reminder that even the greatest players have certain milestones that elude them. In many ways, these unfulfilled goals humanize the legend, making his extraordinary achievements all the more impressive.