Top 5 Virat Kohli knocks against Australia in Test cricket

Without a shadow of doubt, Virat Kohli is currently the best batsman in the world. Irrespective of the format and the conditions, the Indian skipper is scoring runs and is currently at number one spot on the ICC Test and ODI rankings.

This year in Tests, Kohli has scored 1063 runs in just 18 innings, at a breath-taking average of 59.05. This includes as many as 4 hundreds and 4 fifties. He is on course to break most of the batting records established by the little master, Sachin Tendulkar.

India will begin the 4-Test series against Australia, with the first Test from Dec 06 - Dec 10 at Adelaide Oval. In this article, let us take a look at five of his best Test knocks against the Kangaroos.

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#5 115 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, December 9, 2014

Kohli scored two brilliant tons in the first test down under

Stats: 115 runs off 184 balls, 12 fours

India toured Australia for 4-Test series down under with the first Test at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. After winning the toss, Michael Clarke chose to bat first. They scored 517 runs before declaring and the Indian bowlers did not enjoy great success as they got clobbered for runs all around the ground.

In return, India were 111-2 with Kohli and Pujara in the crease. The Indian skipper stitched an 81 run partnership with Pujara and when the latter got dismissed, he built some key partnerships with Rahane and Rohit Sharma to take India to a good total of 444.

Kohli finished the innings with 115 runs off 184 deliveries, accompanied by 12 fours. This was Virat's second century at Adelaide Oval, seventh Test century and third against the Aussies.

India would go on to lose the game by 48 runs, with Kohli slamming a brilliant ton yet again, in the second innings.

#4 116 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, January 24, 2012

Kohli hit his maiden century in tests

Stats: 116 runs off 213 balls, 11 fours and a six

When India visited Australia for a 4-Test series, the hosts won the first three Tests quite comprehensively and the fourth Test did not have any significance. Batting first, the hosts scored as many as 604 runs in their first innings, with Ponting and Clarke each slamming double-centuries.

India, in return, lost wickets cheaply and were reduced to 111-5. Youngster Virat Kohli, who came in at No. 6, slammed a century, scoring 116 runs off 213 balls with the help of 11 fours and a six. Even on a day when no one could get it going, a young Kohli played a brilliant knock.

Australia scored 167-5 in their second innings, setting a mammoth target of 500 runs for the visitors. To no one's surprise, India lost the match by a huge margin and Australia swept Team India, 4-0.

#3 141 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, December 9, 2014

Kohli started the season with a bang

Stats: 141 runs off 175 balls, 16 fours and a six

India toured Australia for a 4-Test series in 2014. In the first test, the hosts won the toss and chose to bat first. They posted a huge total of 517 before declaring. Warner, Clarke and Smith contributed with a century each.

India scored 444 in their first innings, with Kohli scoring 115 off 184 deliveries. Australia scored 290-5 in their second innings and set a target of 364 for India.

In reply, India lost their first two wickets with just 57 on the scoreboard. Kohli took control of the game and anchored the innings, along with Vijay. The duo put on 185 runs for the third wicket and India fell short by just 48 runs.

Kohli finished with 141 runs off 175 balls, with 16 fours and a six. This was his third century at Adelaide Oval, eighth Test century and forth against the Aussies. Vijay was dismissed for 99 runs and missed out on a well deserved century.

#2 147 at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, January 6, 2015

Kohli after his ton in the fourth test.

Stats: 147 runs off 230 balls, 20 fours

Virat Kohli continued his brilliant form in the final Test of the series against Australia. After the third Test ended in a draw, the hosts had clinched the series 2-0 and the final Test in Sydney was just a dead rubber. The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first.

They scored 572 declared, thanks to Warner and Smith's centuries. When India came out to bat, it was Kohli and Rahul whose innings took India to a respectable total of 475 all-out.

Virat scored 147 off 230 balls, including 20 fours. This was his fourth century of the series, tenth of his career and sixth against the Aussies.

This was Kohli's seventh Test century when India batted second. Rahul scored 110 off 262 balls, with 13 fours and a six. In the fourth innings, India came out to chase a target of 349 and scored 252-7 before the match was drawn.

#1 169 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, December 26, 2014

Virat Kohli celebrates after his ton.

Stats: 169 runs off 272 balls, 18 fours

After two brilliant tons in the first Test of the series against Australia, Kohli was once again at his best and registered his career highest against the Aussies. After winning the toss, Australia chose to bat first. They scored a mammoth total of 530 all-out, on the back of 192 off 305 from the skipper, Steve Smith.

In response, India lost the first three wickets for 147 runs and it looked like they were going to come out to bat follow-on. That is when Kohli took over and the Kohli-Rahane duo stitched together a fourth-wicket partnership of 262 runs and reduced Australia's lead to 65 runs.

Kohli scored 169 runs off 272 balls, accompanied by 18 fours. This was the Indian skipper's ninth Test century and his fifth against the Kangaroos. Rahane also registered a century, scoring 147 off 171 balls. The match eventually ended in a draw with Kohli scoring a half-century in the second innings.