Virat Kohli isn’t a Test player anymore. Yes, it is hard to digest, but that is a massive surprise that the modern-day master threw at all of us on Monday, May 12. Notwithstanding his yearning to complete 10,000 Test runs, Kohli has decided to call time on his illustrious Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries.
Kohli, who already made a mark in the ODIs early on, took some time to get hold of his red-ball duties. He came in when the likes of Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid were passing by and started to dominate after receiving the baton passed on by the great Sachin Tendulkar. Also, MS Dhoni trusted Kohli to take the reins as the skipper in between a massive away Test series in Australia. It was the start of the chapter that ended with Kohli becoming perhaps the greatest Indian Test captain ever!
Needless to say, Kohli played some of the all-time greatest. Below, we have made an attempt to create the best playing XI for India with whom Kohli has played Test cricket.
Sehwag to open with Rohit Sharma
Leaving aside the great Sunil Gavaskar, both Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma were two of the most mouth-watering opening batters for India in Tests. Sehwag, particularly, was an enigma with his breathtaking approach. Unsurprisingly, he had the best strike rate (83.79) among players who played with Kohli and made at least 400 runs. Sehwag made 703 runs, including one century and three fifties.
Now moving to Rohit, it’s a bit of an emotional connect as well, with both legends retiring inside five days. It was under Kohli’s regime when Rohit was moved up the order, something that revived his career for good. Rohit 2.0 in Tests was a sign of reinvention and his innings on difficult English tracks were quite fabulous. In total, Kohli and Rohit together played 60 matches, with the latter scoring 3,772 including 79 sixes (the most). A special mention to Murali Vijay, however, who was the unsung hero for India for a number of years.
Star-studded middle-order: Tendulkar in, hard luck for Pujara
Now, here comes a star-studded middle order, including Virat Kohli himself. At number three, we have included Rahul Dravid. Yes, it’s hard luck for Cheteshwar Pujara, who was the most successful batter when playing with Kohli, scoring 6,664 runs, including a whopping 19 centuries. However, even Pujara would choose Dravid himself since it is an article covering the “best” Test XI, covering the best ever that played with the former Indian captain.
Kohli got to play just eight Tests with Dravid, who was on the fag end of his legendary career. Another legendary career coincided with the rise of Kohli and that is of Sachin Tendulkar, who was befittingly replaced by Kohli. Tendulkar, who played 200 Tests in his career, played 17 games alongside Kohli and mustered 835 runs. When the two played, Kohli used to bat at number five, with the Master Blaster at four. The trend continues in this team, too.
Rishabh Pant over MS Dhoni?
It might be surprising to some, but we have chosen Rishabh Pant over MS Dhoni. It may be an unpopular opinion, but Pant has already surpassed Dhoni’s Test legacy as a keeper-batter. He has pummelled multiple centuries, especially in SENA countries, a feat that Dhoni never managed to pull off.
When playing alongside Kohli, Dhoni managed to make 1587 runs at 34.50. Meanwhile, Pant has superb numbers, hammering 2,657 runs at 41.5, including six centuries.
India’s Best Test XI that played with Virat Kohli
| S. No | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Virender Sehwag |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma |
| 3 | Rahul Dravid |
| 4 | Sachin Tendulkar |
| 5 | Virat Kohli (C) |
| 6 | Rishabh Pant (wk) |
| 7 | Ravindra Jadeja |
| 8 | Ravichandran Ashwin |
| 9 | Mohammed Shami |
| 10 | Jasprit Bumrah |
| 11 | Zaheer Khan |
Jadeja-Ashwin: Spin twin that defined a generation
At 7 and 8, we go with the dynamic spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin — a partnership that played a pivotal role in India’s dominance at home and abroad. Ashwin, with 475 wickets at 23.86, and Jadeja, with 282 wickets at 24.83, formed arguably India’s most complete spin combo in history. Their control, versatility, and match-winning spells made them indispensable in Kohli’s playing XI. With the bat too, they were the two crisis men. While Ashiwn made 3140 runs while playing with Kohli, Jadeja hammered 2920.
Kohli’s pace revolution: Shami, Bumrah and an icon Zaheer
If there’s one thing Kohli will be remembered for beyond his batting, it’s his unwavering backing of fast bowlers. Kohli was adamant about picking three quicks overseas, putting a premium on the ability to take 20 wickets anywhere in the world.
Mohammed Shami was Kohli’s go-to workhorse, with 226 wickets at 27.60. His ability to bowl long spells and generate reverse swing made him a lethal option. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead under Kohli, was a generational talent unearthed during his captaincy. With 176 wickets at a staggering average of 18.71, he brought x-factor and control in equal measure. He’s now the best bowler of the current generation, going strong.
Zaheer Khan, despite playing only 13 Tests with Kohli, sneaks in due to his legacy and mentoring role for India’s next-gen pacers. He picked 38 wickets and offered invaluable guidance during a transitional phase. It is unfortunate that the likes of Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav won’t get into this playing XI.
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