Virat Kohli: A Run Machine Against Australia

It’s a new era in Indian cricket as the team takes on Australia in the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, and while Virat Kohli may no longer be leading the team, all eyes will be on him. After India’s historic win in the 20/21 BGT Down Under, the anticipation and excitement surrounding the first home Test series against Australia since 2017 is palpable.

Virat Kohli has been a force to be reckoned with as captain against the Aussies, with two Border Gavaskar Trophy wins under his belt (2017 and 2018/19) and playing a crucial role in India’s 20/21 victory. As a batsman, he’s been nothing short of phenomenal, racking up nearly 1700 runs in 20 matches with an average of 48.05 in BGT matches, including seven centuries.

Here are some of Kohli’s most memorable innings against Australia:

#1. 116 at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 2011-12

It was Kohli’s maiden Test hundred, and what a special one it was! With India struggling at 111/5, Kohli and Saha built a 114-run stand, but after Saha’s dismissal, Kohli had no support from the lower order. He was the last man to fall, finishing with a 213-ball 116 as India scored 272 in response to Australia’s 604/7.

#2. 147 at the SCG, Sydney, 2014-15

Kohli’s hundred on his captaincy debut was nothing short of stellar, a 147 in the fourth and final Test of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. After Rohit Sharma’s half-century, Kohli teamed up with a young KL Rahul to build India’s innings. While Rahul fell after his maiden Test ton, Kohli stood strong, building partnerships with Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha before falling for a well-made 147.

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#3. 169 at the MCG, Melbourne, 2014-15

This was a monumental knock in one of the biggest moments in world cricket, the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Marking the passing of the baton from MS Dhoni to Virat Kohli, Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket after this game. Kohli was in full flow on a batter-friendly surface, building a glorious 262-run partnership with Rahane (who scored 147 runs). Although Steve Smith’s 192 and Dhoni’s retirement overshadowed Kohli’s brilliance, this was another special knock.

#4. 107 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 2013

This is the only knock on this list that took place at home. Kohli’s hundred was overshadowed by an MS Dhoni double hundred in the same game. Batting on a track that offered some assistance to the spinners, Kohli built crucial partnerships en route to his hundred. India were struggling at 12/2 at one point, but Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar turned things around and helped India win the match by eight wickets.

#5. 123 at the WACA, Perth, 2018-19

This underrated knock came in a losing cause during India’s historic 2-1 series win in 2018/19. Virat Kohli was the lone warrior for India as Australia beat the visitors at the WACA without Steve Smith or David Warner. Kohli was in sublime form, batting for more than six hours to build a 257-ball 123 knock, taking India to within 50 runs of Australia’s first-inning total.

In conclusion, Virat Kohli has been a run machine against Australia.