By fate or design, Australia both launched and ended Virat Kohli's Test career -- the latter, perhaps, more abruptly than expected. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Kohli shared a unique connection with Australia -- one no other cricketer quite had. It was here that he scored his maiden Test century, led his first match as captain, became the first Asian skipper to win a Test series Down Under, and ultimately, played his final innings.
Kohli's first tour Down Under
As a 23-year-old firebrand, Kohli first landed on Australian shores during the 2011–12 tour. Led by MS Dhoni, the squad featured icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. Yet, it was Kohli who made the headlines, whether for flashing a middle finger at a hostile crowd or for standing tall as a lone warrior in an otherwise forgettable series for India. His gritty 75 on a bouncy Perth track, followed by a defiant century in Adelaide, was a signal to the world: a new star had arrived.
Skipper Kohli
But it was on his second tour, in 2014–15, that Kohli truly came into his own -- not just as a batsman, but as a leader. With Dhoni ruled out due to a thumb injury in the series opener, Kohli was handed the reins. Chasing 364 in the fourth innings, most captains would have opted for a draw -- the safer choice. But Kohli thought differently. “No more draws, even if it means risking a defeat,” he famously declared. Though India lost by 48 runs, his fearless approach stood out, offering a glimpse of the aggressive, uncompromising captain he was set to become.
"Although we didn’t cross the line, being so close taught us that anything is possible if we put our mind to it. We committed to something that seemed very difficult but almost pulled it off," Kohli wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in 2020, reflecting on that memorable Test.
In the same match, he was struck on the helmet by a searing Mitchell Johnson bouncer. Unfazed, he stared back, then went on to score 692 runs in four Tests at an average of 86.50, including four majestic centuries. This resurgence came on the back of a horrid England tour where he had averaged just 13.50 across 10 innings.
"One of Kohli’s attributes stood out early to me above all others -- he was up for the fight. That kind of aggressive attitude was something we had rarely seen from an Indian player at that point," Johnson later recalled. “We were used to giving it, but didn’t always get it back. Kohli made it a part of his game," he added.
Crowning Glory
Then came the crowning glory: the 2018–19 tour. Kohli etched his name into the history books by becoming the first Asian captain to win a Test series in Australia, arguably his greatest feat as skipper. His dominance commanded respect, even from rivals. Australia's then-coach Justin Langer praised Kohli in Amazon Prime’s 'The Test,' saying, “He’s the best player I’ve ever seen in my life.” Later, while commentating, Langer added, “We talk about Tendulkar… what a player. It was a privilege to play against him, and of course with Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara. But if I had my last dollar and my life on the line, I’d want Kohli batting for me.”
Forgetful outing
However, the same Australian shores also witnessed Kohli’s lowest moments. On the 2020–21 tour, he played only the first Test in Adelaide -- a ground full of good memories -- before returning home for the birth of his child. That match, however, ended in disaster, with India being bowled out for 36 -- their lowest-ever Test score. Kohli departed, and Ajinkya Rahane led a depleted side to a historic comeback series win. For once, the story moved on without him.
Final nail in the coffin
The 2024–25 tour proved to be the final nail in the coffin. Kohli looked a shadow of his former self, exposed repeatedly by deliveries outside the off-stump. Despite a century in the series opener in Perth, which briefly rekindled hope, the rest of the series was forgettable. His last image in Test whites was that of a frustrated man slapping his bat and cursing himself as he walked off. Reflecting on it, he recently admitted, “Because I got a good score in the first Test, I thought, ‘Let’s go. This is going to be another big series.’ It didn’t turn out that way.” He finished the tour with just 190 runs in nine innings at an average of 23.75 -- his worst ever in Australia.
Despite this poor tour, his legacy cannot be overshadowed. Seven of Kohli’s Test hundreds came in Australia -- the most by any visiting batter since Wally Hammond, nearly 90 years ago. Across 18 Tests in Australia, he amassed 1,542 runs at an average of 46.72.
Against Australia -- and especially in Australia -- Kohli didn’t just play; he performed. Brilliantly. Consistently. Fiercely.
And for his fans and lovers of the game, Test cricket won’t ever quite be the same again.
