Virat Kohli Birthday: Top 5 Kohli knocks in Away Tests

Without a doubt, the current Indian skipper, Virat Kohli is one of the best batsmen in modern-day cricket. He loves facing challenges. He always looks to dominate the opposition and you always sense some excitement every time Kohli walks out to bat.

Kohli has scored 49 international centuries (32 in ODIs and 17 in Tests) out of which 28 have come away from home (outside India) - in which 10 Test hundreds have come away from home as well. Not only hundreds, he’s played a few fighting innings helping the team in difficult positions. As Virat Kohli celebrates his 29th birthday on Sunday (5th November), we look at 5 of his best Test knocks away from home.

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#5 103 vs Sri Lanka – Galle (2015)

In 2015 when India toured Sri Lanka for a Test series, it was Kohli’s first series as full-time captain. And the visitors started off very well as Sri Lanka were bundled out for 183 in the first innings.

Once again like the last 5-6 Test matches, Virat Kohli came out to bat with India in a spot of bother - this time they were 28/2 and Kohli joined Dhawan in the middle. The Indian skipper forged a brilliant 253-run stand with his Delhi team-mate to ensure India’s dominance in the Test match continued. Kohli scored a sublime 103 (his 11th Test ton and 8th away from home).

He played with great control and maturity as he along with Dhawan (134) helped India post 375. But a second innings collapse chasing 176 saw India lose the game from a position of strength and the loss took some shine off from Kohli’s 103.

#4 105* vs New Zealand – Wellington (2014)

Kohli batted with supreme authority

For the first time in 3 years, it looked like India would get an overseas win. Having bowled the hosts out for 192 (on the back of Ishant’s superb 6/51), Rahane scored a brilliant 118 and vital contributions from Dhawan (98) and MS Dhoni (68), India posted 438 to gain a big 246-run lead.

Again in the second innings, the visitors had restricted New Zealand to 94/5 but they squandered the advantage as Brendon McCullum scored a memorable 303. Along with McCullum, Watling (124) and Neesham (137) scored big to help the hosts declare at 680/8 on the final day.

Having to bat 67 overs on the final day, India were reduced to 54/3. The Kiwis sensed a collapse but Kohli held fort as he struck 105 off 135 balls to help India salvage a draw. Kohli didn’t defend and go into his shell, but he played his shots and scored a ton – his 6th one in Tests and the first in the fourth innings of a Test.

#3 119 vs South Africa – Johannesburg (2013)

This 119 against a quality pace attack was a mature innings.

India’s tour to South Africa in 2013 was their first away Test series in 18 months. They had lost 8 overseas Tests in a row. After a poor ODI series (where they lost 2-0), India were looking for a turnaround with a relatively inexperienced side. This was India’s first Test without Sachin Tendulkar.

After opting to bat first after winning the toss, India found themselves under pressure as they lost both their openers in the first hour and the score read 24/2. Virat Kohli who took the No. 4 spot walked out to bat.

Facing an attack comprising of Dale Steyn Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, Kohli relished the challenge and found his groove early as he timed the ball sweetly throughout.

Kohli went on to score a majestic 119 as he put India into the driver’s seat on the first day. His innings showcased why I think he is the right man to take the Master’s legacy forward at No. 4.

#2 169 vs Australia – Melbourne (2014)

Kohli, en route to his 169, was in complete command in the middle at the MCG.

The fact that Virat Kohli relishes and loves the challenge the Australians pose is no secret and it certainly brings the best out of him. This innings at the MCG showed that more you sledge Virat Kohli, the better he performs.

In reply to Australia’s 530, India were reduced to 147/3. But what followed was truly magical and a brutal counter-attack by Kohli and Rahane. They were scoring runs at almost 4 runs per over.

The battle between Australia’s spearhead (Mitchell Johnson) and India’s vice-captain was a memorable one. Johnson kept sledging Kohli, but the No. 4 batsman kept answering back with the bat as he plundered 68 runs off 72 balls that he faced off Johnson.

When Kohli got out at the end of Day 3, he finished with a significant 169 helping India to 465. He forged a 262-run stand with Ajinkya Rahane who scored a classy 147 himself.

Kohli followed this 169 with a match-saving 54 on the final day. This game also marked MS Dhoni’s last Test match.

#1 141 vs Australia – Adelaide (2014)

At one stage it looked like Kohli would single-handedly take India home

The fact that Kohli loves playing in Australia is no secret. After scoring a superb maiden ton in Adelaide in 2012, when he returned to Australia in 2014, he was named the captain for the first Test as Dhoni was ruled out with a hand injury.

Australia posted 517 batting first in the first innings. India’s reply was a strong one as they scored 444 on the back of a brilliant 115 by captain Kohli. Australia then set India a target of 364 (in 98 overs) on the final day.

Most teams would have preferred to take the safer option and play for a draw, but Kohli and co decided to go after the target. India were in a spot of bother again when Kohli arrived at the crease at 57/2.

Along with Murli Vijay, he put together a partnership of 185, and remarkably India looked to be on course to chase down the target. However, Vijay was dismissed on 99 and a collapse followed.

Kohli though held his own and looked determined to take his team home. He completed 8th Test ton (2nd in the match) becoming only the second captain in the history to score twin centuries on captaincy debut.

He was fighting a lone battle and looked set to take India home single-handedly, but when he fell for 141, trying to deposit a shortish ball into the mid-wicket stands off Lyon, India were still 60 runs away. And with his dismissal, Australia breathe a sigh of relief and the hopes of a remarkable win were dashed and eventually, the hosts won by 48 runs.

Nevertheless, this was arguably one of the best knocks Virat Kohli has played so far.