Virat Kohli: 5 highest scoring innings of his Test career

Virat Kohli has become a name synonymous with greatness. Cricket pundits and analysts are running out of adjectives for him. As a result, he is one of the most popular athletes in the world today. Looking at the way he has been batting in the past 7-8 years, he could well end up as the greatest batsman of the modern era.

Kohli, who made his test debut in 2011 against West Indies has featured in 69 tests till date and made 5994 runs with an average of 54.49 with 23 centuries and 18 half-centuries.

The 29-year old is the second most successful Indian captain in tests. This article is dedicated towards his batting genius as we look back at his 5 highest scores in Test matches:

---

#5 204 vs Bangladesh, Hyderabad, 2017

Virat smashed the Bangla bowlers out of the park

In the one-off test match versus Bangladesh in Hyderabad, Kohli played a blistering knock to hand India an easy win.

India won the toss and chose to bat first. Kohli stitched a 222-run partnership with Rahane to take India to a huge total of 687/6 before declaring. Kohli's quick-fire 204 off just 246 deliveries were accompanied by 24 fours and was supported well by Rahane's 82 off 133 balls.

Bangladesh could manage only 388 runs in reply, as Mushfiqur Rahim shone with 127 runs. Instead of enforcing the declaration, Kohli's men chose to bat again as they made 159 for the loss of 4 wickets.

Chasing a near improbable target of 459, Bangladesh only managed to make 250 runs. The Ashwin-Jadeja duo picked up 8 wickets for 151 runs as India won the sole Test by 208 runs and Kohli was awarded the Man of the Match.

#4 211 vs New Zealand, Indore, 2016

Kohli saved his team at the time of crisis

India was playing New Zealand in late 2016 in what was a 3-match series. After winning the first two Tests comprehensively, the Indian team entered the 3rd test aiming for a clean sweep.

India won the toss and chose to bat first. The team was in deep trouble at 100-3 when Kohli and Rahane joined hands. Kohli, who had failed to make his mark in the first two Tests, built a 4th wicket partnership of 365 runs with Rahane as he ended up with 211 runs off 366 balls that included 20 fours.

India declared at 557/5. New Zealand came into bat and were all-out for 299. Ashwin spun a web with 6/81. India in their second innings made 216/3 and declared, setting a target of 475 for the visitors.

In the final innings of the Test series, the Kiwis got bundled out for just 153 runs and suffered an embarrassing 321-run defeat. Ashwin once again ripped through the batting lineup and picked up 7 wickets, conceding just 59 runs.

#3 213 vs Sri Lanka, Nagpur, 2017

Kohli smashed 3 centuries in that series

In the 2017 home series versus Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli smashed the Lankans for 610 runs in 5 innings at an average of 152.50 with three centuries and a half-century.

In the second test at Vidarbha, Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first. They were dismissed for just 205 runs, as the twin spin-duo of Ashwin and Jadeja accounted for 7 wickets.

In reply, India hammered Sri Lanka and scored 610/6 before they decided to declare. Virat Kohli once again stood tall and scored yet another double-century scoring 213 off 267 balls with 17 fours and 2 sixes. Vijay, Pujara and Rohit Sharma too smashed in centuries.

The Lankans were again out-foxed in the second innings, losing the Test by an innings and 239 runs. Ashwin once again shone with 4/63 in 17.3 overs, as Jadeja, Ishant and Umesh all picked up 2-wickets each. Kohli was once again declared the Man of the Match.

#2 235 vs England, Mumbai, 2016

The Indians plundered the Englishmen 4-0

England visited India for a 5-match Test series as part of the 2016 Anthony de Mello trophy. After three tests, India were already 2-0 up and the series was seemingly gone for England.

In the fourth test, England won the toss and decided to bat first. Ashwin rattled England with 6 wickets but Keaton Jennings stood tall and scored 112 to take England to a respectable total of 400.

In reply, India lost KL Rahul early in the innings but Pujara and Vijay's 108-run partnership settled things down. Virat who came in at no. 4 built a very key 241-run 9th wicket partnership with Jayant Yadav to take India to 631 giving a first-innings lead of 231 runs.

The Indian captain ended up with 235 off 340 balls, smashing 25 fours and a six to delight the Mumbai crowd.

England in their second innings got all-out for just 195 runs, thanks to Ashwin's yet another stellar spell of spin bowling. India won by an innings and 36 runs and Kohli was adjudged the Man of the Match for his crucial double-century that gave India a 3-0 lead in the series.

India went on to win the series 4-0 and Kohli was awarded Player of the Series for his stellar accumulation of 655 runs in the 5-match series.

#1 243 vs Sri Lanka, Delhi, 2017

Kohli smashed back-to-back double centuries in the series

Sri Lankan Cricket Team toured India in 2017-18 for a 3-match Test series. India were already 1-0 up in the series after two tests and entered the third test in Delhi looking to finish things off in style.

Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first. India made 536/8 before deciding to declare. This was sparked by Kohli's blistering 243 off 287 deliveries which included 25 fours at a really astonishing strike-rate of 84.67. Murali Vijay too shone with 155 off 267balls as the duo stitched up 283 runs for the third wicket before the latter got out.

The Sri Lankan batsmen then scored 373 all-out. Skipper Chandimal and Mathews both scored centuries but no one else could get it going. India in their second innings made 246/5 and declared, setting a target of 410 for the visitors.

In the fourth innings of the test, Sri Lanka made 299 for the loss of 5 wickets as the match ended up being drawn. Kohli was given the Man of the Match as well as the player of the series awards for his quickfire double-century that put India in a commanding position early on in the Test. India clinched the test series 1-0.