"If we play with just one combination, then world class sides are going to plan against us and capitalise on the chances we give them. We need to be flexible."
This was Virat Kohli’s response to the media that quizzed him during the West Indies tour. He minced no words while explaining the rationale behind the several changes made to the side on the Caribbean tour earlier this year. The signs of aggression were always clearly visible but with frequent changes to the team combination, Kohli displayed a new dimension of fearlessness, hitherto an unseen phenomenon in Indian cricket.
‘Never change a winning combination’ – this is perhaps the most common adage that experts cough up. And to a large extent, Indian captains have honoured this almost as if it were a cricketing tradition that is best left untampered.
But not Virat Kohli. Since taking over from MS Dhoni on the Australia tour in 2014/15, there’s been plenty of evidence that he’s one skipper that favours the ‘horses for courses’ theory.
When Kohli took the field to lead the side in the second Test at Vizag, an interesting statistic surfaced. The 28-year-old skipper has never fielded the same eleven in consecutive Tests. Considering that he’s led India in 20 Tests so far, one would think a young skipper would opt for a safer route. But clearly, Kohli likes to think otherwise.
We look at all Tests that the Indian Test skipper has led so far to study the combinations that he’s employed.
Test #1 as captain
Australia v India: Border-Gavaskar Trophy - 1st Test played at Adelaide Oval (09-13 December, 2014)
Summary: MS Dhoni doesn’t recover from a finger injury and Kohli has to lead the side. He fields a seven batsmen-four bowler combination. Karn Sharma is the surprise pick ahead of R Ashwin.
Indian XI: M Vijay, S Dhawan, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, RG Sharma, WP Saha†, KV Sharma, Mohammed Shami, I Sharma, VR Aaron
Result: Australia win by 48 runs.
Test #2 as captain
Australia v India: Border-Gavaskar Trophy - 4th Test played at Sydney Cricket Ground (06-10 January, 2015)
Summary: MS Dhoni makes a surprising announcement calling it quits after the third Test at MCG and Kohli officially takes over the mantle. He employs a seven batsmen-four bowler combination.
Changes: Karn Sharma was the spinner in Kohli’s first Test as skipper, but R Ashwin reclaimed his spot here. Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma were the seamers in the first Test but were replaced by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav. In the batting order, Dhawan made way for KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma took Chetershwar Pujara’s spot and Suresh Raina was roped in.
Indan XI: M Vijay, KL Rahul, RG Sharma, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, SK Raina, WP Saha, R Ashwin, B Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav
Result: Match drawn
Test #3 as captain
Bangladesh v India: June 2015 played at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah (10-15 June, 2015)
Summary: KL Rahul was down with dengue fever and this meant that Shikhar Dhawan playing in the XI. Kohli employs a five-bowlers and six batsmen combination. Harbhajan Singh was the second off-spinner in the side.
Changes: Three changes when compared to the previous Test at the SCG. Dhawan in for Rahul, Raina makes way for Harbhajan Singh, Varun Aaron walked in for Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma for Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.
Indian XI: M Vijay, S Dhawan, RG Sharma, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, WP Saha, R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, V Aaron
Result: Drawn match with large portions of the game interrupted by rain.
Test #4 as captain
India v Sri Lanka - 1st Test played at Galle International Stadium (12-15 August 2015)
Summary: Murali Vijay’s hamstring injury meant that India took the field without their premier opener. Keeping in mind the turning tracks, India played three frontline spinners with the odd fast bowler in Varun Aaron being the lone pacer.
Changes: Two changes in the team compared to their previous assignment. K.L Rahul came into the side, replacing Murali Vijay and Umesh Yadav made way for Amit Mishra
Indian XI: KL Rahul, S Dhawan, I Sharma, RG Sharma, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, WP Saha†, Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, A Mishra, VR Aaron
Result: Sri Lanka won by 63 runs
Test #5 as captain
India v Sri Lanka - 2nd Test played at P Sara Oval, Colombo (20-24 August, 2015)
Summary: After losing the opening Test, India had to go back to the drawing board. Shikhar Dhawan’s fractured right hand didn’t make things any easier for the Men in Blue. India had to grind hard to make a comeback.
Changes: Shikhar Dhawan’s injury ensured that Murali Vijay came back to the team. Umesh Yadav came back to the side in place of Harbhajan Singh and Stuart Binny replaced Ajinkya Rahane.
Indian XI: M Vijay, KL Rahul, AM Rahane, V Kohli*, RG Sharma, STR Binny, WP Saha†, R Ashwin, A Mishra, I Sharma, UT Yadav
Result: India won by 278 runs
Test #6 as captain
India v Sri Lanka - 3rd Test played at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo (28TH August- 1st September 2015)
Summary: India came back strong to pin down the Lankans at Colombo. Nevertheless, Wriddhiman Saha suffered a hamstring injury and was ruled out of the 3rd and final Test. Other than the injured keeper and Murali Vijay, India went on with the winning combination from the previous match.
Changes: Wriddhiman Saha made way for Naman Ojha and Cheteshwar Pujara came back in place of injured Murali Vijay.
Indian XI: KL Rahul, CA Pujara, AM Rahane, V Kohli*, RG Sharma, STR Binny, NV Ojha†, R.Ashwin, A Mishra, I Sharma, UT Yadav
Result: India won by 117 runs
Test #7 as captain
Freedom Trophy
South Africa v India - 1st Test played at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh (5-7 November, 2015)
Summary: The Mohali track was astonishingly dry and the odds were against the Proteas. The bulk of the work depended on the three spinning stalwarts in Jadeja, Ashwin and Mishra.
Changes: Shikhar Dhawan replaced K.L Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha came back into the side after an injury. Ishant Sharma makes way for Varun Aaron and Ravindra Jadeja was roped in for Stuart Binny.
Indian XI: M Vijay, S Dhawan, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, A Mishra, R Ashwin, UT Yadav, VR Aaron
Result: India won by 108 runs
Test #8 as captain
Freedom Trophy
India v South Africa - 2nd Test played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore (14-18 November 2015)
Summary: The Indian team were oozing with confidence after the comprehensive win at the P.C.A Stadium in Mohali. The good news for India was that Ishant Sharma was all set to make a comeback after a one-match suspension.
Changes: Ishant Sharma comes in place of Umesh Yadav and India ropes in all-rounder Stuart Binny walks for Amit Mishra.
Indian XI: M Vijay, S Dhawan, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, STR Binny, R Ashwin, I Sharma, VR Aaron
Result: Match drawn
Test #9 as captain
Freedom Trophy
India v South Africa - 3rd Test played at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur (25-29 November, 2015)
Summary: India had got the Proteas by the scruff of their necks and a delicious spitting cobra waited for South Africa at Nagpur. India decided to go in with the leggie in Amit Mishra.
Changes: Amit Mishra replaced Varun Aaron while Stuart Binny made way for Rohit Sharma
Indian XI: M Vijay, S Dhawan, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, RG Sharma, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, A Mishra, I Sharma
Result: India won by 124 runs
Test #10 as captain
Freedom Trophy
India v South Africa - 4th Test played at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi (3-7 December, 2015)
Summary: After winning two out of three Tests, India looked to finish it off in grand style at the Kotla. The pitch wasn’t as flat as the previous tracks in the series, but South Africa were still up against it. Salvaging pride was all what South Africa was left with.
Changes: Umesh Yadav was the solitary change in place of Amit Mishra.
Indian XI: M Vijay, S Dhawan, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, RG Sharma, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, UT Yadav, I Sharma
Result: India won by 337 runs
Test #11 as captain
India in West Indies Test Series
West Indies v India - 1st Test played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
Summary: After a slew of T20 tournaments, it was India’s turn to shift the focus back to Test cricket. India was all set to face the music in the Caribbean.
Changes: Mohammad Shami and Amit Mishra were the two replacements from the last Test versus South Africa at the Kotla. They came in place of Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja.
Indian XI: M Vijay, S Dhawan, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, A Mishra, Mohammed Shami, I Sharma, UT Yadav
Result: India won by an innings and 92 runs
Test #12 as captain
India in West Indies Test Series
West Indies v India - 2nd Test played at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica (30 July to 03 August 2016)
Summary: India was all set to replicate their superlative show from the opening Test. Murali Vijay got expelled due to a poor strike rate. India, being 1-0 ahead, couldn’t have afforded to get complacent
Changes: K.L Rahul replaced Murali Vijay
Indian XI: KL Rahul, S Dhawan, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, A Mishra, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav, I Sharma
Result: Match drawn
Test #13 as captain
India in West Indies Test Series
West Indies v India - 3rd Test played at Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet (09-13 August 2016)
Summary: The axe came down on Cheteshwar Pujara for not accelerating at the right time. India led the series and looked to continue their consistent run.
Changes: Rohit Sharma comes in for Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav makes way for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Indian XI: KL Rahul, S Dhawan, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, RG Sharma, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, B Kumar, Mohammed Shami, I Sharma
Result: India won by 237 runs
Test #14 as captain
India in West Indies Test Series
West Indies v India - 4th Test played at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad (18-22 August, 2016)
Summary: India had already pocketed the series and were looking to wrap things up with a good show in the 4th and final Test. West Indies were left with the task of evading the humiliation of a whitewash.
Changes: Murali Vijay replaces Shikhar Dhawan while Cheteshwar Pujara comes in place of Ravindra Jadeja
Indian XI: M Vijay, KL Rahul, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, RG Sharma, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, CA Pujara, B Kumar, Mohammed Shami, I Sharma
Result: Match drawn
Test #15 as captain
New Zealand in India Test Series
India v New Zealand - 1st Test Played at Green Park, Kanpur (22-26 September 2016)
Summary: India was all set for the 13-match Test season. They looked to start off handsomely against the Kiwis. They went with four specialist bowlers and strengthened their batting with Ravindra Jadeja coming at number nine in the line-up.
Changes: Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav replaced Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar from their previous encounter against West Indies.
Indian XI: KL Rahul, M Vijay, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, RG Sharma, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav
Result: India won by 197 runs
Test #16 as captain
New Zealand in India Test Series
India v New Zealand - 2nd Test played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata (30 September- 4 October, 2016)
Summary: India looked to pile on the agony for the Kiwis. On a green top, India went in with the genuine swing of Bhuvneshwar Kumar along with the premier spinners.
Changes: Shikhar Dhawan comes in for K.L Rahul and Bhuvneshwar Kumar replaces Umesh Yadav.
Indian XI: S Dhawan, M Vijay, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, RG Sharma, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, B Kumar, Mohammed Shami
Result: India won by 178 runs
Test #17 as captain
New Zealand in India Test Series
India v New Zealand - 3rd Test played at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore (08-12 October, 2016)
Summary: Dhawan suffered a fracture on his left thumb and it ruled him out of the 3rd and final Test. Karun Nair was brought into the squad. With the series already grasped, India were all set for whitewashing the Kiwis. Gautam Gambhir was all set to open for India in his comeback.
Changes: Gautam Gambhir replaced Shikhar Dhawan. Umesh Yadav was back in the side, replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Indian XI: M Vijay, G Gambhir, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, RG Sharma, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav
Test #18 as captain
England in India Test Series
India v England- 1st Test played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot (09-13 November, 2016)
Summary: Keeping in mind England’s debacle at the hands of Bangladesh spinners, India decided to play three specialist spinners. Rajkot was making its debut as a Test venue
Changes: Amit Mishra replaced Rohit Sharama from the 3rd Test versus New Zealand.
Indian XI: M Vijay, G Gambhir, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, A Mishra, AM Rahane, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, UT Yadav, Mohammed Shami
Result: Match drawn
Test #19 as captain
England tour of India, 2nd Test: India v England played at Visakhapatnam (Nov 17-21, 2016)
Summary: After evading a close shave in the first Test, India looked to pull up their socks to put up a show against the English. After Rajkot, it was Visakhapatnam’s turn to make its Test debut.
Changes: K.L Rahul was back in the side after scoring handsomely against Rajasthan, playing for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy. Off break bowler Jayant Yadav made his Test debut, replacing Amit Mishra.
Indian XI: M Vijay, KL Rahul, CA Pujara, V Kohli*, AM Rahane, R Ashwin, WP Saha†, RA Jadeja, J Yadav, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav
Result: India won by 246 runs
Test #20 as captain
England tour of India, 3rd Test: India v England at Punjab Cricket Association, I.S Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh, Nov 26-30, 2016
Summary: India, after humbling the English by 246 runs in the 2nd Test, was oozing with confidence. A vibrant Virat Kohli, with 337 runs from two games at an average of 112.33, rarely put a foot wrong. India, only looked to hammer down the nails in the coffin of England’s prospects in the series.
Changes: Courtesy a forearm injury, K.L Rahul was ruled out of the 3rd Test. It paved the way for Karun Nair into the Test team. A strain on the left thigh ruled Wriddhiman Saha out of the Mohali Test and Parthiv Patel was brought in as a replacement.
Indian XI: M. Vijay, P.A Patel, CA Pujara, V.Kohli, A.M Rahane, K.K Nair, R Ashwin, R.A Jadeja, J Yadav, U.T Yadav, Mohammed Shami
Result: India won by 8 wickets
Though just 20 Tests old as a captain, Kohli has come a long way in shouldering the mantle of Test leadership. The future promises to be a positive one for the swashbuckling figure. Kohli’s temperament has adjusted well with the flexibilities of Test cricket.
Teams are wary of Kohli’s cunning ploys to outsmart the oppositions. Even with the bat, Kohli hardly allows the bowlers to get into his mind. In the field, Kohli is vociferous at the face of the batsman and tries to get under the skin of his rivals.
With the kind of attitude presented by Kohli on the field, the hunger and belligerence is evidently visible in his eyes. At the age of 28, he has already been compared to the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, and he has gleefully lived up to the hype. The Delhi batsman has steadfastly turned into an indispensable component of the Indian Test team. Provided there aren’t any hiccups, Kohli is set to achieve further heights and shatter further records.
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