What were those 3 big defeats that ended Virat Kohli’s captaincy?

Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the most inspirational and passionate captains to have ever led the Indian cricket team, especially in the red-ball format. Known for his fierce determination and never-say-die attitude, Kohli’s leadership energized the entire team, helping India achieve some of its best results in Test cricket. His aggressive style on and off the field set the tone for his teammates, and he was admired for leading by example with his stellar batting performances and sharp cricketing acumen.

Kohli’s tenure as captain saw him becoming the most successful Indian captain in Test cricket history. Under his leadership, India played 68 Test matches and emerged victorious in 40 of them, a record that remains unmatched by any other Indian captain in the longer format. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Kohli captained India in 95 matches, leading the team to 65 wins. In T20 Internationals (T20Is), India won 30 of the 50 matches played under his captaincy. Despite this remarkable success, Kohli eventually stepped down from captaincy roles in all formats, marking the end of an era and passing the baton to Rohit Sharma, who took over as captain across formats.

However, like every captain, Kohli also faced some significant setbacks during his leadership. Three major defeats stand out as pivotal moments in his captaincy career, which had a lasting impact on him and the Indian team.

1. T20 World Cup 2021

One of the most disappointing phases in Kohli’s captaincy came during the 2021 T20 World Cup held in the UAE. Kohli had already announced his decision to step down from India’s T20I captaincy ahead of the tournament. Despite high hopes, India failed to advance beyond the group stage, suffering a shocking loss against their arch-rivals Pakistan. This defeat was particularly painful for Indian fans and players alike, as India had never before lost to Pakistan in a World Cup match until then. Following the tournament, Kohli officially stepped down from T20I captaincy, and Rohit Sharma was appointed as the full-time T20 captain.

2. World Test Championship Final 2021

The inaugural World Test Championship (WTC), spanning from 2019 to 2021, culminated in a final between India and New Zealand at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. In June 2021, New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets, successfully chasing a modest target of 140 runs in the fourth innings. While India’s bowlers performed admirably in favorable conditions, the batting lineup failed to deliver under pressure, leading to a heartbreaking loss. This defeat was a major blow to Kohli’s Test captaincy, as the team came so close to winning the first-ever WTC title.

3. India Tour of South Africa 2021-2022

India began their South Africa tour on a positive note, winning the first Test at Centurion by 113 runs. However, things quickly turned around as South Africa won the next two Tests at Johannesburg and Cape Town by identical margins of seven wickets. These back-to-back losses on challenging South African pitches exposed some weaknesses in India’s batting and strategy. Just a day after the series ended, Kohli announced his decision to quit as Test captain, marking the end of his leadership in the longest format.

After Kohli’s departure, Rohit Sharma was entrusted with captaincy duties across all formats. While Rohit’s leadership in Test matches showed promise, his record and impact did not quite match Kohli’s phenomenal success during his tenure. Rohit has captained India in 24 Test matches so far, winning 12 of them, which is respectable but still leaves room for comparison with Kohli’s legacy.

In summary, Virat Kohli’s captaincy era was defined by tremendous passion, significant victories, and some tough defeats. Despite setbacks in key tournaments and series, his influence on Indian cricket remains immense, and his leadership style has inspired a generation of cricketers to play with intensity and heart. His legacy as one of India’s greatest captains, particularly in Test cricket, is firmly established and will be remembered for years to come.