Cricket’s favourite son, Virat Kolhi, turns 36 today. Kohli, now a King, once was a youngster just like all of us who was dealing with his own ups and downs in his career. However, his ‘not to give up’ attitude has taken him to the peak he sits on today. Despite criticism, scrutiny and the inevitable highs and lows that the game of cricket brings, Kohli has everytime shown his knack of getting up from the depths of a lean patch to deliver when India has most needed him to. From unforgettable centuries to crucial match-saving knocks, here’s a look at how Kohli has always staged a remarkable comeback when the Indian Cricket Team has needed him to step up.
1. Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2011-12
Virat Kohli made his first massive comeback in Australia during the tour in the 2011-12 series, which became a turning point for him. At just 23, Kohli was still finding his feet in test cricket, having struggled with low scores. It was the legendary Indian trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman who first came up against the stiff task of facing the swift and fiery Australian attack but Kohli was the brightest spark in a series where disappointments for India did not seem to end. Despite all this pressure, Kohli’s grit came through. He was India’s highest scorer in the series with over 300 runs, of which a fantastic knock of 116 in Adelaide defined his lines of fearless intent and pointed to immense potential. Kohli arrived on the international circuit as a player to watch by at the same time proclaiming his arrival with maturity and control that defied the years.
2. Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2014-15
The summer of 2014 was probably the darkest phase of Kohli’s test career. As he returned from that disastrous tour of England, he found himself struggling against swing and seam, with scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28 and 20 across 10 innings to leave him with an average of just 13.50. Kohli’s vulnerability to the moving ball was heavily criticised and the critics were quick to question his place in the team.
However, Kohli’s reply was just fantastic.
When India toured Australia in the same year, he played one of the best test series. Kohli became India’s top run-getter in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2014-15 by scoring 692 runs in four tests and four centuries. His monumental efforts not only ensured that India drew the series but also proved to the world that Kohli could handle pressure and that such a slump was just a temporary setback for a cricketer of his ilk. This series marked one of the defining moments in his career and further reinforced his status as one of the modern greats.
3. Asia Cup T20 2022
Kohli went through perhaps the most disastrous phase of his life in the years 2019 and 2022. The stripping away of T20I captaincy and then the tests and ODIs captaincy did make it a very painful period of Kohli’s life wherein centuries became scarce. That was also added by his 1020-day spree without a century at any format.
Again, Kohli showed his mental strength.
After taking a much-needed break away from cricket, Kohli returned with batting form in spectacular style in the 2022 Asia Cup. It was a crunch game against Afghanistan where Kohli finally turned up the scoreboard with his first T20I hundred after nearly three years, ending the long wait with a dazzling knock. It was a testament to his resilience, ability to shut out the noise and his determination to bounce back from one of the most trying periods in his career.
4. Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023
In 2023 again, the career of Kohli in test cricket went under the sharp scanner due to which he had gone without scoring a test century for over three years. Coming into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the form of Kohli again became a topic of discussion due to which a mighty challenge awaited India from their rivals to retain the series at home.
Kohli was the challenge India needed at Ahmedabad in the fourth test when India needed a good show to level the series and make it to the World test Championship final.
A match that seemed to be heading towards a draw was turned on its head by Kohli, who played a monumental 186, a knock that helped India draw the match and gave India a 2-1 series win. This was his first appearance this century and proved to be an apt demonstration of his rise to the challenge when India needed him the most. Kohli’s innings was more than a personal milestone-it was a signal that the “King” of Indian cricket had returned. The knock was not merely about runs but about resilience, determination and leadership qualities that have made Kohli one of the most admired cricketers in the world.
Through this career, he has been proving time and again that setbacks are just setups for comebacks.
Whether it was his performance in Australia in 2011-12, his revival in 2014-15, his return to form in 2022 or his match-winning knock in 2023, Kohli has proved that the true measure of greatness is not how one fares during their peak but how they respond during times of adversity. On Virat Kohli’s 36th birthday, we’re reminded that this man never gave up on form slumps, on criticism or any form of pressure. Standing like a pillar for the Indian Cricket Team and to his fans everywhere, Virat Kolhi remains the kind of spirit a champion always embodies. This is to many more comebacks, milestones and records from one of the finest ambassadors cricket has ever got.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Athharva Shetye
