The no.1 Test batsman Virat Kohli is one of the best captains in Test cricket history. However, under his captaincy, his team has hugely struggled during the second batting in the away Test cricket. The upcoming away Test series in New Zealand will be interesting to see his approach to the game.
Apart from being a top Indian batsman, Virat Kohli is the most successful Test captain in Indian cricket history. While he has led the Indian team in 53 Tests (second-most by an Indian captain), his team has won 33 games. In last August, he surpassed the former Indian captain MS Dhoni (won 27 Tests as a skipper) and became the most successful Test captain for India.
Virat Kohli-led Indian Test team has achieved massive success, including outside the Asian soil. While his team has won 20 Tests at home, they have also claimed 13 Test victories at away venues. Moreover, his team has suffered only one defeat out of 26 home Tests. They are undoubtedly the no.1-ranked Test side. In the 2018/19 season, India beat the hosts Australia in the four-match Test series by 2-1, and it was India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia.
However, the Virat Kohli-led Indian Test team still has a very weak point, and it is the batting second in the away Tests. Under his captaincy, the team has batted second in 11 Tests at home where they have won seven games, lost only once and drawn thrice.
But, Kohli-led India haven’t won a single away Test yet after coming to bat at second. While his team has batted second in 11 away Tests, India have lost eight games, and the other three had the draw results.
Virat Kohli-led Indian Test team’s performances
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Home |
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| Innings | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw | Win% |
| Batting 1st | 15 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 86.67 |
| Batting 2nd | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 63.64 |
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Away |
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| Innings | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw | Win% |
| Batting 1st | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 81.25 |
| Batting 2nd | 11 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0.00 |
In New Zealand, second batting teams are more successful than the first batting teams
Virat Kohli-led Indian team is currently in the New Zealand tour where they will play the two-match Test series against the hosts, starting on 21st February. This Test series will also be the part of the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship.
In the past, India have won five matches out of 23 Tests in New Zealand. However, out of those five victories, four came from the batting second.
Also, in the Test cricket history in New Zealand, the second batting success rate is higher than the first batting. In New Zealand, while the first batting teams have won 55 Tests, the second batting sides have won 71 Tests.
Though the Indian team has won all the matches in the ongoing Test Championship, their second batting record in the away Tests are one of their biggest concern points at the present moment.