Australia has been the stage for Virat Kohli’s transformation from a fiery newcomer to a cricketing icon, and as he prepares for what may be his final Test tour Down Under, it's time for one last hurrah, writes Sarah Waris.
It's that time again. The 5 a.m. alarms and the biting 5-degree mornings, where you find yourself huddling under layers of blankets, shivering from head to toe. Fingers dart in and out from under the covers, tapping the keyboard faster than a mouse would scurry between its hideout and a block of cheese spotted from afar.
The clanking of the keys and the stirring of the umpteenth cup of coffee break the dead stillness of the horizon. A silence so quiet you can hear the ruffling of the grass in faraway Perth, the thudding of the middle of the bat, the 150kmph whizz of the Kookaburra past the batter’s ear, the quiver of an edge, the boisterous celebrations.
Ever so often, the cameras will zoom in on Virat Kohli, Cricket Australia’s blockbuster overseas superstar. From his first days on Australian soil, Kohli has embraced their hard-nosed cricket culture, thriving on the intensity and never shying away from a heated exchange.
It has also been a place where Kohli has often found himself both tested and uplifted. For batters, playing in Australia is always a high-stakes affair, not only for the physical demands of the conditions but for the fierce, psychological contest it brings. For Kohli, each visit has been momentous, helping him find his way once again. As he tours Australia for a Test series possibly for the last time, another pivotal chapter gets readied to be added to his legacy. But how will it end?
The journey began with dark days for Indian cricket in 2011-12, a tour that by many accounts was a debacle. India were whitewashed in four Tests, the second humiliation in a year following their dismal showing in England. With Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Sachin Tendulkar failing to leave a lasting impact and India’s top order in tatters, it was a series that marked the end of an era. As questions hung over the future of Indian cricket, Kohli, initially struggling himself, was the one glimmer of hope. Criticised by many, even questioned by Sanjay Manjrekar, Kohli’s spot in the side was uncertain. But in the final two Tests, he stood up, making 44 and 75 before producing a determined 116, the only India century of the tour. It was a rare high in an otherwise bleak series, proving that even when the team crumbled, Kohli could stand tall.
His off-field antics mirrored his on-field aggression. Frustrated by jeering crowds, he didn’t hesitate to flip them the finger, and he stood his ground against sledging from the Australia players. He was unapologetic, and the fire within him was impossible to ignore. Kohli’s Australian journey had begun, and it was here he showed that Indian cricket’s future was in fearless hands. Later that tour also marked the making of Kohli the ODI behemoth as he took apart Lasith Malinga over-by-over in an epic run chase in Hobart.
By the time Kohli returned in 2014, the stakes had risen. He had something to prove, not only to his team but to himself. Just four months prior, he’d had a disastrous series in England, where he struggled against James Anderson’s swing, averaging only 13.50 across 10 innings. The nightmare had cast doubts on his technique, and many wondered if he could truly conquer foreign conditions.
But in Australia, Kohli showcased the mental toughness that would define his career. He scored four centuries in the series, transforming from a brash youngster to a leader. In Adelaide, stepping in as captain for the first time in Dhoni’s absence, he took risks others wouldn’t dare, like pushing for an unlikely chase, which fell short but signalled a change in mindset. Kohli was unafraid to chase greatness, and his bold decisions marked the revolution of Test cricket, which came to fruition four years later.
Kohli’s 2018-19 tour of Australia was yet another turning point, not just for him but for Indian cricket as a whole. Determined to redefine India’s overseas legacy, he came with a mission, even boldly declaring that his team was the best Indian side of the past 20 years in overseas Tests. The comment ruffled feathers, but Kohli was ready to walk the talk. By then, he had nurtured a world-class pace attack, realising that to win abroad, India needed not only skill but speed.
In South Africa earlier that year, he had famously fielded five pacers, suggesting a seismic shift in strategy. The result was evident in Australia, where Kohli’s pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami matched the world record for most wickets by a pace attack in a single series (48). Kohli’s vision had transformed Indian cricket into a team that could compete on any surface, a team built on fierce resilience and unrelenting pace.
In Perth, Kohli’s century was a masterpiece, marked by impeccable technique and an unbreakable spirit. His statements about his team didn’t seem far-fetched anymore; they felt validated. Under his leadership, India clinched their first-ever series win in Australia. It was a watershed moment that went beyond mere victories and set the tone for a new era, where India no longer hesitated but faced the best with confidence and strength.
When Kohli returned to Australia in 2020-21, he faced yet another challenge, this time as a leader off the field as much as on it. After India were bowled out for 36, their lowest-ever Test score, Kohli had to leave for the birth of his child. His decision was met with scrutiny, yet he remained unwavering, showing that balancing personal and professional life was possible without compromise.
Before departing, he joined a team meeting, rallying his squad, making elaborate plans and pushing for the inclusion of Jadeja to bolster the bowling. The result was a remarkable series comeback, led by Ajinkya Rahane but rooted in the culture Kohli had instilled - one of grit, belief, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Although not physically around, Kohli’s influence was palpable, a reminder that leadership transcends presence.
In between then and now, Kohli once again returned to Australia for a moment of brilliance in a T20I against Pakistan, a breathtaking innings that many felt was one of the finest T20 knocks ever. Although it was in a format that had challenged him, Kohli thrived yet again when he was arguably going through his lowest phase, giving his all when the stakes were highest.
Now, as he prepares for what may be his final Test tour to Australia, the journey feels complete. Kohli has found himself facing a lean period in Tests, and there’s a quiet urgency as he sets out for Australia again. Historically, Australia has been the place where he has found his sanctuary, a proving ground where he has overcome doubt and adversity to shine. This tour offers him another shot at resurgence, another chance to assert himself as one of the finest Test players of his generation.
With each series Down Under, he’s written a new chapter, and now he has one last opportunity to finish it on a high, to etch his legacy into Australian soil, leaving a mark that will be remembered long after the last ball is bowled.
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