Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.
Venue- Eden Gardens, Kolkata [November 22-26, 2019].
In the winter of 2019, the Bangladeshi cricket team toured India to play 3 T20 Internationals and 2 Test Matches. The hosts won the T20 Series 2-1 and were leading the Test Series 1-0 before reaching Kolkata for the final test. Interestingly, this Test Match turned out to become a historic one due to multiple reasons. Firstly, it was the first pink ball test being played in India. Secondly, Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, and Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh, struck the ceremonial bell to start the game. Lastly, this was the last time we saw Prime Virat Kohli. Because after this match, everything went down the slope.
In a must-win game, Bangladeshi Captain Mominul Haque won the toss and decided to bat first. The decision turned out to be a horrendous one, as the Visitors were bowled out for just 106 runs in their first innings. The trio of Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Shami blew the entire Bangladeshi batting lineup away in just 30.3 overs.
However, in response the Indians too got off to a shaky start as they were reduced to 43/2 in 12.5 overs. This is when Captain Kohli joined Pujara in the middle. The game was on a knife edge, as one more wicket at this stage would have opened the game wide open. But this is when King Kohli played one of his finest test knocks. Kohli scored a magnificent 136 off 194 deliveries and took the attack to the opposition. Apart from Kohli, Rahane and Pujara scored gritty half-centuries as Indians declared at a score of 347/9. However, it was Virat Kohli's century that stole the attention of everybody. It was indeed a classy knock from a classy player. After all, it was not about power hitting but was about proper timing and finding the gaps like never before. Moreover, the serenity of the ground made it even more beautiful. It was truly a masterclass.
It was almost certain that India would win this match, and the Indian pace attack made sure that the game ended in quick time. The Visitors were bundled out for just 195 runs in their second innings as the Hosts won the game by an innings and 46 runs. Ishant Sharma was awarded the man of the match as well as the series award as Indians won the Test Series 2-0. Moreover, this was the first time when all 20 wickets were picked up by pacers in India. Indeed, a Historic Moment. The vision of Captain Kohli has finally rendered the results. At a time when he was appointed the Test Captain, he wanted to create an army of fast bowlers who would win him matches. Finally, that moment had come.
Unfortunately, post this, everything went downhill for the Indian captain. Kohli, who scored his 27th test ton in this game, managed to score just 3 more tons in the next 5 years, as his batting average went down from 55 to 46.90 till the time he announced his retirement in May 2025. However, 2015-19 was the period that no Indian Test fan would ever forget. It was a delight to watch the Indian team play test matches. Thank you, Virat Kohli, for everything.
To watch the innings of Virat Kohli, Click Here.
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