Virat Kohli - one of cricket’s greatest batters - brought an abrupt end to his illustrious Test career. His dream and goal of scoring 10,000 runs and joining the elite league of world-record holders remained unachieved, though.

Despite the doom and gloom surrounding his exit at the fag end of his career, Kohli remains Indian cricket’s finest-ever batter in overseas conditions. Not only did his sublime skills and application help him dominate bowlers, but also his aggressive demeanour and temperament ruled the roost.

Kohli emerged on the Indian cricket scene at a time when Australia remained the most dominating side of world cricket. However, in his 14-year career, he beat the Aussies in their very own style – aggression, sledging, and bullying – while remaining focused on his brutal yet classic batting.

Despite being only 770 runs away from becoming only the eighth batter in history to score 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs, Kohli announced his retirement.

Since his debut in 2011, Kohli scored 9,230 runs from 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties. Although he ran out of fortune in the last five years, aggregating 1,990 runs in 37 games with three hundreds, he remained a great batter who flourished in alien conditions.

Kohli scored 4,894 runs in 68 away Tests at 41.13, including 16 centuries. In comparison, his 4,336 runs in 55 home Tests came at an average of 55.58.

Among all nations away from home, Australia remained Kohli’s favourite hunting ground – whether it was fighting a fiery Australian bowling as the lone wolf in the middle during the 2011–12 series or the 2014–15 series, he was the real tormentor of Australia. Kohli scored 1,542 runs Down Under in 18 Tests at an average of 46.72, with seven hundreds and four fifties. No other overseas nation saw him breach the century mark more than twice.

Kohli was always charged up to face the Australians. In 30 Tests against them, he amassed 2,232 runs at 43.76, with nine centuries and five fifties – his most runs and hundreds against any opposition.

The right-handed batter’s Australia voyage started in 2011–12 when he was a raw 23-year-old talent. In his maiden tour Down Under, Kohli had a point to prove. Although Australia won the series 4-0, Kohli established himself as a batter with world-class abilities. He scored 300 runs at an average of 37.50, including his maiden Test hundred in Adelaide.

During his second tour of Australia in 2014–15, Kohli was at the peak of his form. Leading India in the absence of Dhoni, he smacked around the Aussies - with Mitchell Johnson being their spearhead - at will, scoring a whopping 692 runs in four Tests at an astonishing average of 86.50, with four classy hundreds. India lost the series 0-2, but Kohli’s dominance over the Australians was beyond doubt.

In 2018–19, Kohli was India’s full-fledged captain. He led the team to a historic series win in Australia. Though he could not really succeed with the bat – scoring 282 runs in four matches – his firebrand leadership, taking the fight to the Australians, was crucial.

In the next series in 2020–21, Kohli played just one Test, scoring 78 runs. Rahane led the team and defended the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In Kohli’s final series in Australia, he was far from his best, scoring 190 runs in nine innings at an average of 23.75. Of his eight dismissals, he lost his wicket seven times outside off stump. In the New Year Test in Sydney, Scott Boland dismissed Kohli both times. It was not only his worst tour Down Under, but also the darkest phase of his career. Kohli was frustrated. “I might not have an Australia tour again in me in four years’ time,” he told his teammates.

Kohli, who always wore his heart on his sleeve, indicated his unhappiness and discomfort with red-ball cricket. And five months later, he bid farewell to Test cricket. Although Kohli’s legacy is set in stone, the farewell could have been better.

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