On December 9, 2014, Virat Kohli stepped into his first Test match as captain for India during the Adelaide Test against Australia. Kohli took charge in place of MS Dhoni, who was unavailable due to injury. This match marked the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket, as Kohli’s aggressive and fearless leadership style came to the forefront.
Kohli showed his aggressive leadership style from the very start. In response to Australia’s massive first-innings total of 517/7 declared, he led from the front with a magnificent 115. His innings were full of intent, which reflected his belief in chasing victories rather than settling for draws.
The beginning of 'Kohli era'
Australia set a daunting target of 364 in the fourth innings, and Kohli once again shouldered the responsibility. He played a stunning knock of 141, attacking the Australian bowlers with confidence. India came close to pulling off a historic win, but wickets kept falling at the other end. Kohli was the last man out as India fell short by 48 runs. Despite the defeat, the match highlighted Kohli’s fearless batting and his never-say-die attitude as captain.
This Test laid the foundation for Kohli’s leadership legacy. Under his captaincy, India adopted an aggressive mindset, focused on winning rather than merely competing. His passion, fitness standards, and relentless pursuit of excellence transformed the Indian team into one of the most competitive sides in the world.
A legacy to be remembered
Kohli led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 and losing only 17. His win percentage of 58.82% remains the highest for any Indian Test captain. Memorable victories under his leadership include the 2–1 series win in Australia during 2018-19, marking India’s first-ever Test series triumph on Australian soil. He also guided India to a dominant series win in England in 2021, with India leading 2-1 before the final Test was postponed and the series got tied later. Read More
This article is referenced from
https://www.indiatoday.in/
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