India's strongest Test XI under Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli took over the captaincy from Mahedra Singh Dhoni, after the later shockingly announced his retirement after the fourth Test match of the 2014-15 Border Gavaskar Trophy in December 2014. Kohli, who captained India once in the first match of that series at Adelaide was made the full-time Indian Test skipper from the 'New Year' Test of 2015 at Sydney. Under Virat Kohli, Team India won its first ever full-fledged Test series in Sri Lanka. This was India's first away Test series win since 2011.

After the 2-0 Tests series against West Indies at the Caribbean, India climbed to number one spot in Tests under Kohli. Though they lost their position after a short while, they consolidated their position on top after some impressive home series wins. Currently the number one ranked Test side- India has played 37 Test matches under Kohli, winning 21 and losing 7 with nine matches ending in a draw. Kohli possesses a winning percentage of 56.75 in Tests. Let us now look at the best Indian Test XI under Virat Kohli ever since he took over the reigns in January 2015.

Honourable mention: KL Rahul

Openers - Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay

Vijay, who made his Test debut against Australia back in 2008 at Nagpur, has been a mainstay in the Indian Test squad ever since Virat Kohli took over the captaincy. Having played alongside veteran players like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir during the initial stages of his career, Vijay went on to establish himself as a permanent fixture in the squad after the end of their Test careers.

The stylish Tamil Nadu batsman is a sheer delight to watch when he is in full flow. He was India's third highest run-getter in Test matches in 2015 with 522 runs in seven matches at an average of 47.45, with his highest score being 150.

In the following year, he scored 550 runs in 10 matches finishing the year as fifth highest run-scorer for Kohli's men in Tests and was solid once again at the top of the order. Another memorable run saw Vijay finishing last year with 520 runs in five matches that included three centuries and a half-century.

Though he hasn't been that consistent with the bat in 2018, he has 233 runs in six matches to his name- with his highest score being 105. Overall, Vijay has scored 1825 runs in 29 matches under Virat's captaincy - that includes seven centuries and six half-centuries, with his highest score being 155.

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Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan, who made his Test debut under MS Dhoni against Australia in 2013 scored the fastest hundred by Indian batsmen (Tests) in the same match at Mohali. He has complemented Vijay very well at the top, with the duo provided several electrifying starts at the top. In 18 matches under Virat Kohli, Dhawan amassed 1369 runs that includes five centuries and three half-centuries at an average of 48.89.

His highest Test score of 190 came against Sri Lanka during India's victorious tour of the Island nation back in 2016. The right-left combination of Vijay and Dhawan has been a revelation for Team India at the top of the order in Tests.

Middle-order batsmen

Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara

A permanent fixture in the Indian batting line-up for Tests, Pujara has repaid his captain's enormous faith in him through his performances with the bat. After a decent run in 2015 with 347 runs in five matches, Pujara raised his standards in the following year with 836 runs in eleven matches at an average of 55.73. He was India's second highest run-getter behind Kohli with three centuries and four half-centuries in 2016. The Saurashtra batsman was especially unstoppable during India's home series victories over New Zealand (3-0) and England (4-0).

Last year, with 1140 runs in 11 matches at an average of 67.05 he finished as the second highest run-getter of the year behind the Aussie Steven Smith. With four centuries and five half-centuries, he was India's top batsman of 2017. The 30-year-old is yet to get into the groove this year, having scored 155 runs in six matches. Though he is currently not at his best, he has certainly been India's prime batsmen in the past 3-4 years.

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Virat Kohli (Captain)

Virat Kohli

Captaincy has brought out the best from Virat Kohli, who took over the reigns form Mahendra Singh Dhoni in January 2015. The Delhiite has been in sublime touch, scoring runs consistently for India in Test matches across various countries. Kohli ended 2015 as the highest run-scorer for Team India with 640 runs in nine matches at an average of 42.66, with his highest score being 147. The skipper was in the form of his life in 2016 scoring 1215 runs in 12 matches at an astonishing average of 75.93. Virat, who was named the Man of the tournament at the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup and IPL, scored three double-centuries that year- against West Indies, New Zealand and England.

It was a year to remember for the Indian skipper as he created a plethora of records- only Indian Test captain to score three double hundreds, first Indian captain to register nine Test wins in a calendar year, first Indian captain to register five successive Test series wins, First Indian to aggregate over 1000 Test runs in a calendar year since Rahul Dravid, who made 1145 runs in 2011 and third player to score three double hundreds in a calendar year after Don Bradman and Ricky Ponting. He continued his dream run in 2017 too, scoring 1059 runs in ten matches that included five centuries and a half-century at an average of 75.64. This year, with 526 runs in five matches at an average of 52.60, he continues to be India's saviour with the bat in Tests.

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Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane's contribution for Team India has been immense under Virat Kohli in Test matches. The Mumbai batsman has provided the much-needed stability for the Indian middle order with his scintillating stroke-play. After ending 2015 as India's second highest run-getter behind skipper Kohli with 593 runs (three centuries and a half century) in nine matches, Rahane continued his good run in 2016 with 653 runs in ten matches.

Last year, he was India's fourth best batsman with 554 runs in 11 matches. This year though, hasn't gone well for him as he is struggling to regain his sublime touch with just 115 runs in seven innings. But, one cannot question his supremacy with the bat since he has contributed consistently in the middle order for the past three-four years.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

Well, this might be surprising. But actually, Rohit has done well under Kohli as a lower middle order batsman in the past several years. With 909 runs in 16 matches at an average of 39.52, Rohit has amassed eight half-centuries and a century batting low down the order.

With a wide range of proven batsmen like Rohit in their ranks, the Indian batting has been unstoppable under Virat Kohli. Perceived more as a limited-overs batsman, Rohit has done pretty well in the opportunity he got low down the order in whites for Team India.

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Wicketkeeper - Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha

Following MS Dhoni's retirement from the Test arena in December 2014, Wriddhiman Saha donned the gloves behind the stumps for Virat's men. Though Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik played occasionally (during Saha's absence), Saha's contribution behind the stumps has been immense.

In the 29 matches he has represented Team India under skipper Kohli, Saha has managed 1052 runs that include five half-centuries and three centuries, with his highest score being 117. The Bengal wicket-keeper batsman has taken 75 catches and effected 10 stumpings for Team India in Test matches. Replacing a legend like MS Dhoni is a daunting task, but Saha has done pretty well for Virat's men after the Dhoni era.

Spinners

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin

If there is one player who deserves an automatic spot, then it has to be Ravichandran Ashwin. The Tamil Nadu star topped the bowling charts with 62 wickets in nine matches in 2015, that included seven five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls with his best figures being 7/66. Ashwin continued his dream run in 2016 as well, with 72 wickets in 12 matches and was instrumental in India's dominance in Test matches that year. With eight five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls in 2016, Ashwin was once again the leading wicket-taker in Tests.

He once again proved why he is the best with the red-cherry, claiming 56 wickets in 11 matches last year thereby finishing the year as India's highest wicket-taker (third overall). There is no stopping Ashwin who has 19 wickets to his name so far this year apart from amassing 193 runs in five matches this year.

Undoubtedly, Ashwin's rise as an all-rounder has been phenomenal ever since Kohli took over reigns as his batting stats reveal-1292 runs in 37 matches that include two centuries and eight half-centuries, with his highest score being 118. With his all-round contributions, Ashwin has been priceless for Team India in the longer format of the game.

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Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja has been complementing Ashwin well with the ball, especially in the spin-friendly Indian conditions. With 23 wickets in four matches, Jadeja was India's second-best spinner behind Ashwin in 2015. His magic-run continued in 2016 as he took 43 wickets nine matches, with the majority of those coming at home against the kiwis and the English.

Team India's successful bowlers of the year chart remained intact, as Jaddu finished behind leader Ashwin with 54 wickets in ten matches, with his best figures being 6/63 last year. Jadeja, who has played just one Test match so far this year (against Afghanistan in Bengaluru) took six wickets in that game. A useful lower-middle order batsman, Jaddu has amassed 832 runs in 24 matches for India that includes seven half-centuries since

Pacers

Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami

The pace department had several star performers for Team India. But none enjoyed success like Shami, who made his Test debut against West Indies in November 2013 under MS Dhoni. Virat Kohli was well aware of Shami's talents when he took over the reigns and had lot of faith in his pacer, who in turn did not disappoint his skipper.

Shami has emerged as India's leading pacer in Tests under Kohli with 75 scalps in 21 matches, that includes two five-wicket hauls. The Bengal speedster has been consistent in his line and length across different venue, has no doubt been a wicket-taking bowler for Kohli's men in the past three-four years.

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Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav

Umesh, who made his Test debut back in November 2011 against West Indies combined well with Shami to torment the opposition with pace, swing and bounce. Capable of bowling constantly over 140 kph, Yadav too has been consistent with the red cherry for Kohli's men in Tests.

Even in the spin-friendly Indian tracks, Yadav was able to get high amount of purchase- an indication of his talent and ability to pick up wickets at a regular interval. The Vidarbha pacer is the second best pacer for Team India behind Shami, with 64 wickets in 27 matches.