Ravindra Jadeja Lauds Virat Kohli's Test Captaincy and Impact
Jadeja Commends Kohli's Tenacity in Test Cricket
Ravindra Jadeja, the prominent all-rounder from India, has expressed admiration for former captain Virat Kohli, particularly praising his relentless drive in Test cricket. Jadeja emphasized Kohli's commitment to securing all 20 wickets and his refusal to relent, no matter the circumstances of the match.
Kohli's Impressive Record as Test Captain
During his tenure as captain in 68 Test matches, Kohli led India to 40 victories, suffered only 17 losses, and saw 11 matches end in a draw. His win rate stands at an impressive 58.82%, marking him as India's most successful Test captain.
In the realm of Test captaincy, Kohli ranks as the fourth most successful captain globally, following Graeme Smith from South Africa (53 wins in 109 matches), Ricky Ponting from Australia (48 wins in 77 matches), and Steve Waugh (41 wins in 57 matches). Notably, he holds the record for the most Test wins by an Asian captain.
Jadeja Reflects on Kohli's Positive Mindset
Jadeja remarked, "Virat Kohli's mindset is consistently positive, especially in Test matches. His unique trait is his determination to take all 20 wickets, which means he never gives up, whether playing at home or away. Even with just a few sessions or overs left, he aims to dismiss all 10 opposition batsmen." This statement was made during an interview on Ashwin's YouTube channel.
Memories from Under-19 Days
Reflecting on their shared journey, Jadeja reminisced about their under-19 days, acknowledging Kohli's remarkable consistency from youth cricket to the international stage. He noted, "We always believed Virat would excel because he consistently scored runs at both the U-19 and international levels. It was a privilege to share the dressing room with him and witness his record-breaking achievements."
Kohli's Record-Breaking Performance
Kohli has set a benchmark as a batsman, accumulating the highest runs by an Indian captain in Test matches, totaling 5,864 runs across 68 matches and 113 innings, with an impressive average of 54.80, including 20 centuries and 18 fifties. His highest score stands at 254*.
Kohli Among the Elite Test Captains
In terms of batting, Kohli ranks fourth among Test captains, with Graeme Smith leading with 8,659 runs in 109 Tests, followed by Allan Border (6,623 runs in 93 Tests) and Ricky Ponting (6,542 runs in 77 Tests).
On May 12, the cricketing world was taken aback when Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket just before the much-anticipated five-match Test series against England.
Kohli's Overall Test Career
Throughout his Test career, Kohli participated in 123 matches, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings. He ranks as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, trailing behind legends Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).