Virat Kohli Birthday: Top 5 Kohli knocks in Tests at home

#2 167 and 81 vs England – Vishakhapatnam (2016)

The Indian captain was the only player to score a hundred in the second Test.

England had started their India tour on a very good note as they had stretched India in the first Test. Scoring big in the first innings and then consolidating, England had India in trouble on the final of the first Test – only for Kohli to play a fighting 49* to salvage a draw.

In the second Test after opting to bat first at Vizag, Kohli came into bat as early as the 5th over as India lost both their openers. At 22/2, India seemed to be under pressure after a bad start.

But Kohli continued his good form soothing the nerves in the Indian camp as he shared a massive 226-run partnership with Pujara to help India take early control of the game. In his last 5 innings, he had scored three 40s along with a double ton, but here he made sure he converted a good start into a big one.

His 167 put India on course for a big first innings score. The stand-out part of this innings was the way he soaked in some early pressure and then dominated most part of his innings. He wasn’t done yet, he came back to score a stroke-filled 81 in the second innings on a deteriorating and tough pitch.

His 81 looked like he was batting on a completely different pitch as none of the other Indian batsmen crossed 30 and India managed only 204 in their second innings.

He countered Broad (who was bowling beautifully) and Rashid superbly as he was in complete control of the innings. His 167 and 81 in the two innings helped India take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series.