5 Indian Players Who Owe Their Test Careers To Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli stepped down as Test skipper of India, giving a huge shock to many cricket fans, followers, experts, and analysts all around the globe. Virat Kohli was the skipper of India in all three formats for the last few years. The 33-year-old himself decided to quit as a T20I skipper last year in November. Later, BCCI also removed him as an ODI skipper. Just after the IND vs SA Test series loss, the right-handed batsman also quit the Test captaincy.

Virat Kohli’s era in Test cricket can be arguably dubbed as the golden period. Under Kohli, the team bagged some incredible victories at foreign soils and dominated almost every team at home. Team India also held the top spot in ICC Test rankings for the most time. Moreover, Kohli also encouraged and backed a few Indian players on the Test side. In this article, we talk about 5 Indian players who owe their Test careers to Virat Kohli.

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5 Indian Players Who Owe Their Test Careers To Virat Kohli

5. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is the first player on this list. Until 2019, Rohit Sharma was not a regular member of the Test team for India. He did not bat as an opener in Tests, however, was a regular opener in the ODI and T20Is. In 2019 during South Africa’s tour of India, the right-handed batsman played as an opener in Test for the first time.

Smashing a double century, Sharma proved to everyone that is a top choice for an opener in Tests as well. It was under Virat Kohli’s captaincy that Rohit Sharma was given an opportunity to open in Tests. His Test career rose post the series. Hence, Kohli owes a lot of credit in Rohit Sharma’s rise as a Test opener.

Also Read: Virat Kohli’s Wife Anushka Sharma Pens A Heartfelt Note After Virat Steps Down As India’s Test Captain

4. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is another player on this list. The right-arm pacer made his Test debut during India’ tour of South Africa in 2018. Virat Kohli and then head coach Ravi Shastri planned Jasprit Bumrah’s arrival into Test cricket, showcasing him on foreign soil for his debut.

Since Indian grounds are not too pace-friendly, the duo thought making an overseas debut in a seam-friendly nation like South Africa will motivate and boost Jasprit Bumrah. Although India lost the series 2-1, Bumrah grabbed 14 wickets in the 3-match Test series along with a fifer. Later, Virat Kohli backed the Indian pacer in the forthcoming Test series as well.

Also Read: 3 Indian Players Who Might Cement Their Place In The Test Team Under A New Captain

3. KL Rahul

KL Rahul is the third player on this list. KL Rahul was almost snubbed from the Test side after India’s tour of Australia 2021 in January last year. Shubman Gill did a good job as a Test opener for India. KL Rahul did not play any Test match during England’s home series as well as the ICC World Test Championship final.

However, Virat Kohli gave him opportunities during India’s tour of England last year. KL Rahul managed to come up with some good knocks during the series and regained his spot as an opener in the Test side.

Also Read: 3 Indian Players Whose Test Careers Might End After Virat Kohli’s Step Down As The Test Captain

2. Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is another player who owes his Test career to Virat Kohli. Although Rishabh Pant impressed everyone with his spectacular batting show during India’s 2-1 against Australia last year, Virat Kohli always supported him in the Test side.

For instance, the left-handed batsman was highly criticized for his batting approach during the IND vs SA 2d Test. However, Kohli backed him in the series and kept him in the playing XI in the next game. The wicket-keeper batsman then smacked a century in IND vs SA 3rd Test. Wriddhiman Saha was the top wicketkeeper’s choice for India in Tests, but Kohli gave enough opportunities to Pant to showcase his skills in the longer formats.

Also Read: Three Players Who Can Take Up The Indian Test Vice Captaincy Role

1. Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal is the 5th player on this list. Mayank Agarwal made his Test debut during India’s tour of Australia in 2018. During the Test tour, it was a big gamble to play an uncapped player as an opener midway during the series. But Virat Kohli backed this idea of then-head coach Ravi Shastri and allowed Mayank Agarwal to open the innings.

Agarwal played a few beautiful knocks in the series. India also won the series 2-1 and registered their first Test series victory in Australia. Mayank Agarwal earned a lot of appreciation for his role as an opener and became a popular choice for an opener in Tests post that. Hence, Mayank Agarwal is another player who owes his Test career to Virat Kohli.

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