What should have, ideally speaking, gone a long distance in terms of it having already been a prominent and vital career, came most recently to a suden, halt and that too, surprisingly. It was sad. It was unbelievable in that one expected Virat Kohli to go the long extra distance. But sadly, the call was taken by the man himself where it came to stepping away from test cricket. For good.
Still shocking for his loyal fans, many of whom may still be left wondering that would would have motivated him to go for the unexpected. Having said that, he is the one main batsman, who for his focus and temerity, will strike the mind as did someone like Dravid back in the day, when a new generation from India attempts to forge its destiny in English conditions.
Having said that, let us, therefore, try to cast the mind onto the glorious Virat Kohli knocks vs England in tests that were constructed back in the day but shall be relived for times to come as the pearls from a bygone era?
Top Virat Kohli knocks in Test cricket
235 vs England, Wankhede, 2016
This was a massive hundred. This was a vital hundred. And what's more? Most importantly, it came through the bat of the man considered the 'king' in the land of the man hailed as Cricket's 'god'.
This knock, still remains, Kohli's highest ever individual Test score and that it came against a line up featuring the great Jimmy Anderson, unarguably, the greatest English red ball bowler, and company made the supreme batting effort even more special.
Did it not? Rather nicely, Kohli's daddy hundred resulted in a big and mighty important win for his Team India, a outfit that back in that time sported a slightly different look with of course, there being no Gill, Pant and Jaiswal.
149 vs England, Edgbaston, 2018
Widely remembered and cherished - and rightly so - for being one of the most dogged hundreds ever hit by an Indian on English soil in Test match cricket, this focused, resolute knock by Virat Kohli charmed even his Test match critics who would often incite him by saying that he should play less Tests and just more white ball cricket. Who would have thought back in the day that this 149, then his first-ever Test hundred in England, would consolidate his position as one of the successful test match cricketers, someone who'd end up with over 9,000 Test runs to his name?
Not his critics for sure!
The way he adapted to swinging bowling conditions, showcased Virat's excellent temperament and the technical soundness in his game.
103 vs England, Trent Bridge, 2018
At Trent Bridge, what become a harrowing challenge for the batters is the fact that once the new ball becomes a touch old, as seen in the past, it begins to grip well onto the surface, rises more and even generates more movement than before.
Back in 2018, when Virat Kohli, it could be argued was at the peak of his powers, he hit a splendid Test century, the 103 vs England in England's extremely arduous and challenging ground: Trent Bridge, usually a high scoring white-ball game venue.
But this 103 was special as he showcased a knock in which a key aspect of his batting besides the gorgeous timing was his ability to leave the ball well.
In swinging conditions, it was a knock to savour.
167 vs England, Vizag, 2016
It ought to be remembered that back in time, in 2016, which now is like a decade old tale, Kohli hit a swashbuckling century against the unsuspecting English visitors who really had no idea on what was to follow at Vizag in India.
His 167 was a classy and supreme century, which was actually followed by a second inning fifty.
In the first inning knock, Kohli stayed put for over 400 minutes at the middle, and in all, made just 2 run shy of 250 runs in a single test. A single test!
