Virat Kohli’s 3 best Test knocks vs Bangladesh
India will kick off their 2024/25 home season with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The first Test will be held in Chennai starting September 19, followed by the second Test in Kanpur beginning September 27.
The two teams have faced each other 13 times in Test cricket, with India winning 11 of those encounters and two matches ending in a draw. Bangladesh, however, will enter the series with confidence following their recent clean sweep of Pakistan in a two-match series.
This series is significant for both teams in the context of the World Test Championship standings, with Rohit Sharma's India currently at the top and Bangladesh in fourth place. India will also benefit from the return of Virat Kohli, who is making his Test comeback after missing the England series earlier this year due to the birth of his child.
Now back in action, the 35-year-old Kohli will be keen to make an impact. As India prepare to take on the Bangla Tigers, let’s review Kohli's three best Test innings against Bangladesh.
#3 38 in 2017
Virat Kohli scored 38 runs against Bangladesh in the 2017 one-off Test match in Hyderabad. Kohli's double century led India to a commanding first innings total of 687/6 before they declared. In response, Bangladesh were dismissed for 388.
In their second innings, India declared at 159/4, with Kohli contributing 38 off 40 balls, including two boundaries and one six. Bangladesh, chasing a daunting target of 459, were dismissed for 250. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja each took four wickets, leading India to a commanding victory by 208 runs.
#2 136 in 2019
The second match of India's 2019 series against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens was a pink-ball Test. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first, but Ishant Sharma was outstanding, taking five wickets and dismissing Bangladesh for just 106 runs.
In reply, Virat Kohli delivered a superb innings, scoring 136 off 194 balls with 18 boundaries. Contributions from Cheteshwar Pujara (55) and Ajinkya Rahane (51) helped India establish a substantial first-innings lead of 241 runs, with India declaring at 347/9.
In Bangladesh’s second innings, Mushfiqur Rahim scored 74, but no other batter made a significant contribution, and they were bowled out for 195. Umesh Yadav took five wickets and Ishant Sharma claimed four as India secured victory by an innings and 46 runs.
#1 204 in 2017
In the 2017 one-off Test in Hyderabad, Virat Kohli delivered a remarkable performance in the first innings. While Murali Vijay (108) and Wriddhiman Saha (106) each scored centuries, it was Kohli’s double century that stole the spotlight.
He amassed 204 runs off 246 balls, including 24 boundaries, as India declared their first innings at 687/6.
India continued their dominant form and secured a victory by 208 runs. Kohli was named Player of the Match for his impressive scores of 204 and 38 in the two innings.