As Virat Kohli calls time on his Test career, we chart his rollercoaster run through the pace, bounce, and swing of South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia
No warning bells. No press conference. Just a quiet Instagram post on a Monday morning—and just like that, Test cricket lost one of its modern monarchs. Virat Kohli, the firebrand who once made whites look glamorous, has decided to walk away after 14 long years.
The bat that once danced under Durban’s sun and answered the jeers at Edgbaston now rests in the corner. And while fans scrambled to digest the news, others took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the times when the “King” ruled the toughest kingdoms: the SENA countries—South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia.
These weren’t just matches; they were battlefields. And Kohli? He wasn’t always the knight in shining armour, but he learned how to swing his sword when it mattered most.
Credit: NDTV
Let’s start with the southern tip of the continent: South Africa, a land of pace and bounce that is not very kind to visiting batters. But Kohli? He wasn’t interested in just surviving; he thrived.
In 9 Tests across a decade (2013–2024), Virat racked up 891 runs at an average of 49.50: 2 centuries, 4 fifties, and not a single duck in 18 innings. His knock of 153 in Centurion still lingers in memory like a bold brushstroke on canvas. He didn’t just tackle the Proteas’ pace; he tamed it.
When others poked and prodded at the cracks, Kohli drove and flicked with a surgeon’s precision. It wasn’t always loud, but it was always loud enough to make South Africa sit up.
Ah, England—the land of swing, sarcasm, and sometimes struggle. His 2014 tour here was a horror flick in slow motion: 134 runs in 10 innings. Fans mocked, and experts doubted. But Kohli’s reply? Wait for 2018.
He returned with a vengeance, scoring 593 runs in five Tests. From 149 at Edgbaston to gritty fifties, he stood tall while others crumbled. Across 17 Tests in England, with 2 centuries and 5 fifties, he accumulated 1,096 runs at an average of 33.21. Not his best average, sure, but the context made it shine brighter.
He never quite dominated English conditions, but he made them respect him. And after all, redemption stories are often the most gripping.
New Zealand wasn’t a frequent stop but still left its mark. In 4 Tests, Kohli accumulated 252 runs at an average of 36.00. His unbeaten 105 in Wellington* during 2014 was the standout—a fluent ton that came when others struggled against the wind and wobble.
Though not a dominant record, Kohli didn’t flop here either. He endured the Kiwi chill and, on his day, made it look like a walk in the park.
If SENA were a four-part drama, Australia was the action-packed climax. The banter, bouncers, and baggy green pressure all brought out the best in him.
In 18 Tests from 2011 to 2025, Virat amassed a staggering 1,542 runs at an average of 46.72. He scored 7 centuries, 4 fifties, and delivered a handful of jaw-dropping moments. Who can forget his twin tons in Adelaide in 2014, or the 169 in Melbourne that seemed to stretch forever?
Australia pushed him, and he pushed back harder. It was in these clashes that Kohli grew not only as a batter but also as a leader. His captaincy, fire, and fearlessness all came alive under the Southern stars.
Across the SENA countries, Kohli’s blade spoke volumes:
Total Tests played in SENA: 48
Total runs: 3,781
Average: 41.9
Hundreds: 12
Fifties: 14
These numbers tell only half the story. It’s the how and when of these runs that truly matter. In regions where Indian batters have traditionally struggled, Kohli stood tall against the odds.
As he steps away, one can’t help but feel a lump in the throat. It’s not just that he won’t bat again in whites, but because he gave everything the format demanded—and more. His legacy in SENA transcends numbers; it’s about moments of grit, flair, and fight.
Now that the whites are folded and the flannels packed, his glorious scrapbook remains a memory.
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