CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg [January 24-28, 2018].

South Africa is one of the toughest places to play Test cricket. The uneven bounce, seam and pace make the lives of the batsmen miserable. As a result, we often encounter low-scoring thrillers in the Rainbow Nation. However, there has been a rare occasion wherein the visiting captain didn't bow down but rather took the challenge of playing in the scariest conditions. 

In the year 2018, the Indian Cricket Team toured South Africa to play 3 Tests, 6 ODIs and 3 T20 Internationals. Despite the fight and resistance, the visitors were 0-2 down, and the clouds of whitewash were looming as the teams reached Johannesburg for the final test. However, the pitch in the Wanderers was producing uneven bounce, which was causing multiple injuries to batsmen. As a result, the umpires considered calling off the test. However, this is when Captain Kohli decided that he and his team wouldn't run away and decided that the match should continue.

India chose to bat first on the dangerous Johannesburg surface, which was already exhibiting considerable seam movement and irregular bounce. With 50 runs from Cheteshwar Pujara and a crucial 54 from captain Virat Kohli, the visitors were able to score 187 runs in their first innings. Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander all made good use of the pitch. In response, South Africa found the going to be just as difficult. They had a slim seven-run advantage as their innings ended with just 194. With 61 runs, Hashim Amla was the highest scorer. The Indian bowling attack was brilliantly led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took 3 for 44, and Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed five wickets.

In the second innings, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane batted with remarkable talent and perseverance in spite of difficult batting circumstances. Rahane added a smooth 48 runs, and the Indian captain scored an important 41. Before the visitors were bowled out for 247, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar demonstrated excellent batting skills by scoring 27 and 33 runs, respectively, down the order.

South Africa, chasing 241 for victory, lost opener Aiden Markram early on, but Hashim Amla and Dean Elgar put up a strong partnership, adding 119 runs for the second wicket. The combination increased the likelihood of a successful chase, but the South African batting lineup came apart after Amla was dismissed for 52. On 86 off 240 balls, Elgar remained undefeated as wickets fell all around him.

The charge was spearheaded by Mohammed Shami, who broke the back of the hosts' chase with a scorching performance, taking 5 for 28. Ishant Sharma and Bumrah both finished with two wickets, providing outstanding support. South Africa lost by 63 runs after being knocked out for 177 in their second innings.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was awarded the man of the match award as Indians avoided a whitewash. However, despite India not winning this series, the Johannesburg test will always be remembered for the courage which Captain Kohli and his troop exhibited in South Africa. It is a match which will be remembered for ages. 

To watch the Highlights of that Iconic Third Test, Click Here. 

THE WHITEWASH

 

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Venue- Sabina Park, Kingston [July 12-14, 2025].

In the summer of 2025, the Australian cricket team toured the West Indies to play 3 Tests and 5 T20 Internationals. Interestingly, the Windies in their previous encounter were able to draw the test series in Australia. As a result, everyone was expecting a strong contest between the two great cricketing nations. However, it turned out to be a one-sided affair as Aussies steamrolled Windies in their own backyard. The series was won without much contest, and when both teams reached Jamaica for the final encounter, the clouds of whitewash were looming before the hosts.

Australian Captain Pat Cummins won the third toss of the series and decided to bat first. The pitch was a bowlers' paradise, which would make the life of batsmen tough with every passing day. However, this is when the class of Steve Smith came into play. Smith scored a gritty 48 off 66 deliveries and helped Australia reach a score of 225 in their first innings. Apart from Smith, Green scored a valuable 46 as the Windies continued chipping wickets at regular intervals. 

In response, the Windies were bowled out for just 143 in their first innings. The Aussie pace attack literally broke the spine of the Windies batting line-up. However, the hosts were still in the game, as their bowlers bowled out Australia for just 121 runs in their second innings. Hence, the Windies now needed 204 runs to win the test match and avoid a whitewash.

However, what happened next was something truly unbelievable. Mitchell Starc bowled one of the most destructive spells of his career as the hosts were bowled out for just 27 runs in their second innings. Interestingly, this was Starc's 100th test, and in the process of picking 6 wickets, he also completed 400 wickets in test cricket. Moreover, he completed a fifer in just 15 balls, which is yet another world record. Apart from Starc, this match will also be remembered for Scott Boland's heroics as he picked up a hat-trick in the second innings. It is quite unfortunate that we often miss Boland's name while talking about this test. However, it was a collective team effort which resulted in a historic series win in the Caribbean. 

To watch the spell of Mitchell Starc, Click Here.

To watch the spell of Scott Boland, Click Here. 

To watch the iconic 3rd Day of the 3rd Test, Click Here. 

THE KOHLI ERA

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot [October 4-8, 2018].

In October 2025, we will be playing our first home test series without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin. The England tour marked the beginning of a new era under Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir. We did perform great in the tough English conditions. Now it's time to chase glory on our home soil. The 2024 New Zealand Series ended Team India's winning streak at home. Unfortunately, the series not just ended our home domination but also brought us a lot of shame, as we got whitewashed in our home for the very first time. Hence, we will be starting afresh next month when we face the Windies in our home. We need to play like we did in the Kohli era. Now many might ask me, what was the style of play in the Kohli era? I will address the same in this post. 

In the autumn of 2018, the West Indies Cricket Team toured India to play 2 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20 Internationals. The first test of the series was scheduled to take place in Rajkot – a ground often dubbed as Batsman's Paradise. As a result, when Captain Kohli won the toss, he immediately decided to bat first. To everyone's surprise, KL Rahul was dismissed for a duck in the very first over of the innings. However, what followed next was something which everyone knew would happen. Virat Kohli played yet another captain's knock as he scored a majestic 139 off 230 deliveries. Interestingly, he hit only 10 boundaries, which implies that he scored the remaining 99 runs by running between the wickets. The knock, which lasted for nearly 6 hours, was classic Test match batsmanship. Apart from him, debutant Prithvi Shaw and Ravindra Jadeja also completed their tonnes as the Windies struggled for wickets. It was quite unfortunate that Pujara (86) and Pant (92) missed their centuries by the smallest of margins. However, the hosts piled up 649 runs on the board before they decided to declare.

In response, the Windies got demolished as the troika of Ashwin, Kuldeep and Jadeja ripped the West Indian batting line-up. The Indians won the game by an innings and 272 runs as the Windies got battered in both innings. Interestingly, the slaughter continued in the second test as well, wherein we crushed the visitors by 10 wickets and thus won the series 2-0.

However, I will not blame the Windies for their struggle. After all, this was the typical sight of the Kohli era wherein the visitors were crushed and defeated. Unfortunately, we were on the receiving end last year when the Kiwis whitewashed us in our home. As a result, Captain Gill and his men have a huge task ahead. They have made us proud in England. It's time for them to regain the home domination which we enjoyed during the Kohli era.

To watch the Innings of Virat Kohli, Click Here. 

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney [January 6-10, 2015].

    

In the summer of 2014-15, the Indian cricket team toured Australia to play 4 test matches. At the conclusion of the third test, the hosts were leading the series 2-0. At one stage it appeared that they might win the third test as well. However, a fightback from the Indian batting line-up on Day 5 of the 4th Test meant that the test match ended in a draw. Shockingly, in the press conference of the Third Test, Indian Captain MS Dhoni announced his retirement from Test Cricket, and young Virat Kohli was appointed as the Test Captain of the Indian Cricket Team. Hence, it was the dawn of a new era. Interestingly, Kohli, in the absence of Dhoni, captained the Indian team in the first test at Adelaide. Thus, it was seen as a proper passing of the baton from a charismatic leader to a Young Turk. 

The script of the fourth test was nothing different from the previous tests. Australian Captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers David Warner and Chris Rogers gave Aussies a dream start as they stitched a massive opening partnership of 200 runs. Warner scored a quickfire 100, whereas Rogers (95) missed his 100 by the barest of margins. Moreover, the slaughter continued even after both the openers were dismissed. Captain Steve Smith scored his 4th tonne of the series as the Aussies declared at a massive score of 572/7. Apart from Smith, Watson, Shaun Marsh and Burns also scored gritty half-centuries as Indians struggled for wickets. 

In response, Kohli responded strongly with his bat as he scored a massive 147 of 230 deliveries. In an innings which lasted for more than 5 hours, he smashed 20 boundaries and replied to the Australian fire with fire. It was pure class from King Kohli, who was literally in the form of his life. Apart from Kohli, KL Rahul also scored his maiden century as the Indians were bowled out for 475 in their first innings. 

Interestingly to win the 4th test, Aussies set India a target of 349 runs in 90 overs. They expected to steamroller the visitors on the final day. However, an Indian fightback on Day 5 meant that the match ended in a draw. The Aussies won the series 2-0 as Steve Smith was awarded both man of the match and man of the series. 

Interestingly, four years later, the Indian team led by Virat Kohli breached the Australian fortress as India won their first test series in Australia. However, the 2025 Sydney Test also saw the last of Virat Kohli as he retired from test cricket after this test. Moreover, Kohli was the stand-in captain in the Sydney Test, as Bumrah was injured. The ground which saw the beginning also saw the end of the great Virat Kohli.

To watch the innings of Kohli and Rahul, Click Here. 

To watch the last day resistance of Team India, Click Here.