MS Dhoni saved Virat Kohli’s Test career. Photo: AP
Virat Kohli is celebrating the 17th anniversary of his international cricket debut on Monday (August 18). Exactly 17 years ago, Virat donned the India cap for the first time. The right-handed batsman opened the innings with Gautam Gambhir in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla. After initial struggles, Virat cemented his spot in the ODI team and was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad. He was appointed India’s ODI vice-captain in 2012. He made his Test debut against West Indies in June 2011.
Virat lost his place in the Test squad after his maiden series. He did make his return but was on the bench. He finally made it to the playing XI during the home series against West Indies and was on the flight to Australia.
Virat flopped in the first two Tests against Australia and managed scores of 11, 0, 23 and 9. Following his below-par performance, the selectors wanted to drop Virat from the playing XI.
Captain MS Dhoni and vice-captain Virender Sehwag backed Virat and saved his Test career by giving him another opportunity. Rohit Sharma, who was expected to make his Test debut in Perth, stayed on the bench.
Sehwag revealed the unheard story of saving Virat’s Test career while doing commentary in the home series against England in 2016. “The selectors wanted to play Rohit Sharma instead of Kohli at Perth in 2012. I was vice-captain and Dhoni was leading the team, and we decided that we have to back Kohli. The rest is history,” the former India opener revealed.
Virat Kohli became a regular in Tests
The captain and vice-captain’s backing did wonders for Virat and he scored 44 and 75 on a tough Perth pitch. He slammed a century in India’s first innings in Adelaide. Virat cemented his spot after the Perth Test and three years later, he captained India in the series opener of the Test series against Australia.
Virat, India’s most successful Test captain, finished his career with 9230 runs in 123 matches. He captained India to 40 wins from 68 matches. Virat is now only active in the ODI format.