Reliving all the six double centuries of Virat Kohli

The last 18 months have seen a resurgence of Virat Kohli the Test batsman, as the Indian captain has notched up six double centuries across this period.

There was little doubt over the credibility of Kohli, but there were questions raised about his temperament to kick on after getting to a century. Ever since he got to his first double century in Antigua, the floodgates have opened and he has reeled off six 200s at almost breakneck speed.

We relive all his six double centuries in this article.

#6 243 vs Sri Lanka, Delhi 2017

Leading a rampant Indian side in their own backyard, the captain has become a lynchpin of the batting order and his consistent run with the bat has become one of the biggest reasons for the dominance of the Indian team.

In Delhi, Kohli walked out to bat with a lot of positive intent and got going with a string of boundaries. He put the mediocre Sri Lankan attack to the sword as he almost strolled to his sixth double century. It made him only the sixth batsman in the history of the game to notch up 200 in consecutive innings.

He was dismissed for a dominant 243 when he was pinned in front of the wickets by Lakshan Sandakan.

#5 213 vs Sri Lanka, Nagpur 2017

India have had a tight leash over Sri Lanka in the recent past and the run-scoring spree of Kohli has to be one of the main reasons. The Indian captain feasts on the Lankans and it seems as if there is a complete dearth of planning whenever he walks on to the field.

It was a walk in the park, an extended net session for Kohli when he strode out to bat in Nagpur, stopping only after he had plundered 213 runs, an innings which included 17 boundaries and a couple of sixes.

His innings allowed India to post a mammoth first innings score of 610, a score which proved to be a bridge too far for Sri Lanka to cross.

The hosts won the match by an innings and 239 runs.

#4 213 vs Bangladesh, Hyderabad 2016

Image credits: BCCI

Bangladesh toured India for a one-off Test in Hyderabad and ran into a red-hot Indian team.

India won the toss and batted first on a track which was an absolute belter and piled on the runs and the misery on their neighbours.

Captain Virat Kohli was relentless as he notched up his fourth Test double century without even breaking into a sweat. He was dismissed for 204, but, aided by Vijay's century and then by Wriddhiman Saha's unbeaten 106, India declared their innings at 687 for 6.

The match was perfectly set-up for India and the bowlers applied the finishing touches, wrapping up the match by 208 runs.

#3 235 vs England, Mumbai 2016

Perhaps his best innings in this list came against England at the Wankhede Stadium back in 2016.

England won the toss and elected to bat first, posting 400 runs in their first innings.

India did not have an entirely bright start as they lost opener KL Rahul for 24. However, Murali Vijay dug in for 136, but the innings belonged to the captain, who sauntered out and put the England bowling to the sword.

It was a flawless innings, replete with many glittering strokes as he waltzed his way to a sparkling 235. He played 340 balls and hit 25 boundaries and a solitary six.

India piled up 631 in reply and England folded for a paltry 195, thus handing India a win by an innings and 36 runs.

#2 211 vs New Zealand, Indore 2016

This was a special knock since it came on the back of a rare dry patch for the Indian captain. Prior to this effort, Kohli had only managed 132 runs from seven innings and hence this innings was played under some pressure.

This was not the usual flamboyant Kohli innings, as he dug in and was willing to spend time at the crease and work hard for his runs. It was a disciplined knock as his 211 came in 366 balls and featured 18 boundaries.

He fell for 211 but had done enough to allow India to wrap up the match by 321 runs and blank the Kiwis 3-0.

#1 200 vs West Indies, Antigua 2016

Kohli's first double century came at the famous Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua back in July 2016.

It was the first Test match of a three-match series. India won the toss and elected to bat first. Murali Vijay departed early. Pujara and Dhawan stitched a 60-run partnership but then Pujara was dismissed for 16.

And then the stage was set for the captain who brought a lot of positive intent into the innings and cruised to his maiden double century.

His efforts, coupled with R Ashwin's 113, helped India score 566 in their first innings. Kohli was dismissed for exactly 200, but West Indies could not muster a fight as they slipped to an innings and 92 runs loss.