England vs India 2018: Top 5 individual batting performances in the series

#1: Virat Kohli - 149 (225), Edgbaston

England v India: Specsavers 1st Test - Day Two

There is a reason that many claim Virat Kohli to be the best batsman in the world currently. Look no further than this innings at Edgbaston to back up that claim.

After having a disastrous tour to England in 2014, Kohli looked like a man on a mission to write his wrongs. And he got right into business in the first Test match itself. He farmed the strike for most of his partnerships with the tail and single-handedly ate into the lead of the Englishmen to eventually reach his century.

In my opinion, this is the best innings that Kohli had played just because of the fact that he toiled hard for the first 50 runs, watching wickets fall at the other end while weathering the Anderson storm. He had his fair share of luck, but he capitalized on that luck, which is what good players do. In the end, England's lead was brought down to a paltry 13 runs, opening up the game for India to come back in the second innings.

This was better than Pujara's innings because while Pujara had a batsman at the other end during his initial phase to settle down, Kohli had to bat with the lower order for most of his innings.

This was a defining series for the batsmen in a series dominated by the ball. There is no doubt that Pujara, Rahul, Pant, and Curran played the best innings of their careers in this series. There is also a valid claim to say that Kohli too played his best innings in this series. One fact that cannot be denied is the batsman who scored runs in this runs-scarce series, can go back mighty proud of what they have done.