Virat Kohli scored 115,141 and 147 runs in his three first innings as Test captain in 2014.
England v India, fourth test of LV= Insurance Test. Venue: Kia Oval. Date: 2-6 Sept. Time: 11:00 BST. Coverage: In-play Highlights, Test Match Special commentary, and text coverage on BBC Sport's app and website. Today at the Test at 19.00 BST (BBC Four, September 3rd) and iPlayer
Virat Kohli has been the man who can do no wrong for so many years. When things are going well in India, it seems like there is a cosmic disturbance or a reorganization of the order.
In November 2019, he made his Test century for India. For 51 innings, he has not scored 100 runs for India in any format.
India defeated England in a stunning victory at Lord's. They were then beaten by four innings at Emerald Headingley.
The thrilling series is poised at 1-1, with two Tests remaining to play. It resumes at the Kia Oval Thursday. Kohli holds the key for whether India can bounce back.
What is wrong with Kohli's cricket?
He seems to be experiencing 'off-stumpitis,' which is uncertainty about where his off stump lies, when he plays against swing bowlers.
He's playing at deliveries that he shouldn't be. Bowlers played on his ego by challenging him to play the game - and Kohli obliged, pushing him hesitantly to get behind.
The batsmen to his left and right in the order, Cheteshwar pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, both of whom have greater patience and a less urgent need to determine who is boss, were able get out of England in a similar fashion, creating a crisis in the middle-order.
Kohli was conscious of being close to his body, and seeing the ball under his eyes since the 2018 tour to England.
He has been a good outswinger on this tour, but has gotten into a fight over the ball which threatens to leave him. But he holds his ground.
Kohli has both the mental and physical tools to get it done. With back-to-back Tests, there is pressure to get Kohli's batting perfect, his team selection correct, and his tactics just right.
Some captains, like Mike Brearley from England and Tiger Pataudi of India (later in his career), transcended personal batting failures to lead teams to victory.
To be mentioned in the same breath as Kohli - India are looking for a series win in England after 2007 - Kohli must prove himself inspirational when things go wrong, as well as when they are on top.
"His team-mates saw him eating and ordered the exact same dish."
Kohli enjoys captaincy. He loves to bring his personal style to the team. He loves to challenge his teammates as much as he enjoys challenging his adversaries.
His record as a leader has been impressive. His batting average as captain is now comfortably higher than it was before he took over the job. He is India's most successful Test skipper, with 37 wins.
Sometimes, Kohli and his team's full-throated celebrations - full blooded, full-blooded, and unabashedly self congratulatory - have distracted from the performance.
He makes up for what Kohli lacks tactically by making sure his team is aligned to the same vision and playing with aggression and great self-belief.
This cliche of 'team spirit' is more evident under Kohli than any other India captains. His mantra is exceptional fitness, high fielding standards, and the importance Test cricket.
Kohli was a great leader. I can recall a meal at his table at a hotel for team players. Other players would pass our table and look at the food, then order the same dish. Kohli, like a good leader, inspires his men outside of their professional field.
The halo that Kohli has over his head may have fallen a bit, but it's as much due to his poor form than his leadership in England.
This style is both a valid and silly choice when it works.
Is India's aggression too aggressive?
At 32, Kohli suddenly finds himself being asked questions about his batting and his captaincy. The second aspect of his performance was flawless at Lord's. England needed 60 runs to save the Test.
Headingley was a different story. He chose to bat first, despite the brownish wicket. England then added five runs more.
Television in India showed the 2002 Headingley Test external-link during the break. India's captain Sourav Ganguly won a toss and decided to play on a seamer-friendly track. He had Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and others in his team. India won by one innings thanks to the efforts of all three.
The Kohli philosophy was evident when Jasprit Bhumrah (the mildest fast bowler) was asked to hit number 11 Anderson with a series a bouncers. It is important to avoid hostility and to retaliate if you are provoked. In the belief that it boosts bowlers, confrontations are encouraged.
Sometimes, victory is not enough. It must be accompanied with humiliation. This is a concept that is completely against the spirit of sport. As England's wickets fell and batsmen struggled, Lord's saw a lot of laughter at the stump microphones.
In my newspaper column, I said: "Do we want our cricket team seen as aggressive bullies that act as if 22 yards and all else belong to them? Or is there another way to win that doesn't reach down into the lesser angels (as opposed the better angels of our nature)?"
The response was immediate. While I was mistaken to criticize Kohli, there was a large number of fans who believed Kohli had crossed the line.
Are you looking for a gentle Kohli who loses Tests, or one who wins? These were the main points of the responses. Triumphalism brooks no criticism.
Captaincy is not about attacking every moment. Kohli has proven that his team is unbeatable. The best revenge is to play well.
Victory is the ultimate reason for sport and if India wins the series, all the frustrations will be forgotten. If Kohli's batting plays any role, he would have personally lifted the halo back.
