Published: Aug 20, 2019, 04:21 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 20, 2019, 04:21 PM (IST)
Indian skipper Virat Kohli is on the cusp of becoming country’s most successful captain in Test cricket. With 26 wins in 46 matches, Kohli is behind MS Dhoni, who led India to 27 victories in 60 Tests. Should India win both the Test matches against West Indies, Kohli will go past Dhoni’s tally.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly had led India to 21 victories in 49 Tests. Mohammad Azharuddin and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi sit next to Azharuddin on the list with 14 and nine wins in their accounts, respectively.
| Captain | Matches | Wins |
| MS Dhoni | 60 | 27 |
| Virat Kohli | 46 | 26 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 49 | 21 |
| Mohammad Azharuddin | 47 | 14 |
| Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi | 40 | 9 |
Kohli made his captaincy debut in the 1st Test of the series against Australia in 2014/15, where Dhoni sat out due to a thumb injury. Following a loss in the 3rd Test of the series, Dhoni announced his retirement from Tests and vice-captain Kohli took over the charge on a full-time basis.
Under Kohli, India touched new heights, but has also endured tough times. They became the first Asian team to defeat Australia down under in 2018/19. India also enjoyed successful run in the 2016/17 home season when they hosted New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia. Out of 13 Tests that India played, they won 10. India’s only defeat came against Australia in Pune.
However, outside of the sub-continent Kohli’s does not have a good record. India lost three-match Test series to South Africa 1-2 while in England, the visitors suffered a 1-4 defeat in five-match series.
Also Read: India World Test Championship schedule: All you need to know as Virat Kohli’s team plays West Indies
| Batsman | Matches | Runs |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 200 | 15921 |
| Rahul Dravid | 163 | 13265 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | 125 | 10122 |
| VVS Laxman | 134 | 8781 |
| Virender Sehwag | 103 | 8503 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 113 | 7212 |
| Dilip Vengsarkar | 116 | 6868 |
| Virat Kohli | 77 | 6613 |
| Mohammad Azharuddin | 99 | 6215 |
| Gundappa Viswanath | 91 | 6080 |
Kohli will have an opportunity to go past Dilip Vengsarkar to become the seventh-highest run-scorer for India. With 6868 runs at an average of 42.12, Vengsarkar is 255 runs ahead of Kohli. Should the Indian skipper score a total of 256 runs in two Test matches, he will overtake the Indian legend.
While Kohli will have a chance to become India’s most successful Test captain, India off-spinner R Ashwin needs just to take over legend Michael Holding on the list of most wickets in India-West Indies Test series. With 61 scalps, Holding sits at the 11th spot. Kapil Dev, who took 89 wickets in 41 innings, is the highest wicket-taker in Test series between the two nations.
