Top Five Innings Of Virat Kohli In A Losing Cause

Despite a stockpile of 200 in the first Test match between England and India, Virat Kohli could only win the hearts. Edgbaston turned out to be a thriller as England edged out India by 31 runs.
Virat Kohli scored his maiden Test ton in the first inning. This followed a well-crafted half-century that unfortunately came in a losing cause. He was the lone warrior of Edgbaston Test from India.

The Indian skipper managed to score 200 in the match, rest of the batsmen scored 214 runs while as rest could only garner 214 collectively.

This century draw many comparisons between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. His inning put the nostalgic moments on the table as many of centuries from Sachin Tendulkar came in the losing cause.

From the statistical perspective, Sachin Tendulkar has most Test centuries in a losing cause. He has 11 centuries that came in a negative cause.

Virat Kohli is on 4th position now as he has six centuries in a losing cause.
Let us have a look at the top five centuries by Kohli which went in vain as India lost the Test match.

153 against South Africa (2018)

This century came in a losing cause at Centurion, when India was on a tour of South Africa. After batting first, South Africa put 335 in the first inning. Ravichandran Ashwin displayed some phenomenal performance that restricted South Africa to settle a big score.

India got off to a mediocre start as India lost both KL Rahul and Chetheshwar Pujara on the team score of 28. Virat Kohli then stepped in and almost take the match out from South Africa.

It was the 21st century from Virat Kohli and became the second skipper to score a century in South Africa. His century helped India to get close to the total of South Africa. Unfortunately, this century came in a losing cause as India lost the match by 135 runs.

116 against Australia

This inning came against Australia at Adelaide in 2012. With the help of two double tons from Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, Australia posted a mammoth total of 604 runs. In reply to it, Australia lost four wickets on the score of 87.

Virat Kohli along with wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha put a partnership of 114 runs. It was the maiden ton for Delhi lad.

His 116 was the only highlight of the Indian team in the Test as visitors lost the game by a massive margin of 298 runs.

103 against Sri Lanka

This ton came in a losing cause when India was on a tour of Sri Lanka in 2015. Sri Lanka while batting first perishes on a total of 183, thanks to the gallantry work of Ashwin who took 6-wicket haul.

After losing KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma early on, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan added 227 run partnership and put India in a strong position.

Soon after scoring his 11th Test ton, Kohli departs on 103. India achieved a lead of 192 runs and were hot favorites to win. However, Dinesh Chandimal played a heroic inning when he brought India into the game by scoring unbeaten 162.

While chasing a target of 172 runs, Indian team find themselves short by 63 runs.

149 against England.

This is the latest addition to the centuries in a losing cause. After Mohammad Shami displayed some excellent performance, India bowled out England on 287.

Indian openers provided a steady start before middle-order threw their wickets. Apart from Virat Kohli, no other batsman showed any grit before English bowling. He added 92 runs with the last two batsmen and put India in a good position.

While chasing 194 in the 4th inning, India finds itself short of 31 runs.

141 against Australia

This knock from Virat Kohli came in 2014 at Adelaide. Virat Kohli rated this knock as a favorite one till date. Murli Vijay alongside Virat Kohli powered India towards a chase of 364.

Vijay and Kohli shared an unlikely partnership of 185 runs that brought India closer to the target. Vijay became a victim of nervous nineties, and India soon lost the plot.

After wickets tumbled from the other end, Virat Kohli gave his wicket while going for a big shot. Australia eventually won the game by 48 runs.