Virat Kohli made his Test Debut on June 20, 2011
Though he didn’t make a big impact right away, his passion and dedication to the longest format of the game stood out. Over the years, he became a strong voice and face for Test cricket. Before retiring on May 12, 2025, he played 100 Test matches and became one of India’s greatest red-ball players. Let’s revisit his debut match.
Starting off, the first Test match between India and West Indies at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, from June 20 to 23, 2011, was a gripping contest that unfolded over four innings. India, batting first after winning the toss, posted 246 in their first innings, followed by West Indies’ 173 in response. India’s second innings yielded 252, setting a target of 326, which West Indies chased but fell short at 262.
India’s first innings began on a sunny morning at Sabina Park, with the team electing to bat on a pitch offering some early bounce. Openers Murali Vijay and Abhinav Mukund, the latter making his Test debut, faced a fiery West Indies pace attack led by Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul. Vijay looked confident early on, scoring 8 runs off 12 balls with a crisp boundary, but Rampaul struck in the fourth over, inducing an edge to Devendra Bishoo at slip. Mukund, cautious in his approach, battled for 56 minutes to score 11 off 41 balls, including a solitary four, before Rampaul bowled him in the 12th over, leaving India at 30/2.
Rahul Dravid, the experienced No. 3, steadied the ship with a composed 40 off 67 balls, stroking seven fours with his trademark elegance. He shared a 34-run stand with VVS Laxman, who scored a fluent 12 off 31 balls with two fours but fell to Bishoo’s leg-spin, caught by Daren Sammy at slip. Virat Kohli, another debutant, walked in at No. 5 and faced a stern test. He managed just 4 runs off 10 balls, hitting one boundary with confidence, but Edwards’ extra bounce got him, as he edged to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh. Dravid followed soon after, caught by Sammy off Bishoo for 40, and when MS Dhoni fell for a two-ball duck to Bishoo, India were reeling at 85/6 in the 29th over.
Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh then launched a spirited counterattack, adding 146 runs for the seventh wicket. Raina played a gem, scoring 82 off 115 balls with 15 fours, blending caution with aggression. Harbhajan, promoted up the order, smashed 70 off 74 balls, including 10 fours and a six, dominating the spinners and pacers alike. Their partnership revived India’s hopes, but Edwards struck back, dismissing Harbhajan, caught by Bishoo, and trapping Praveen Kumar lbw for 4. Amit Mishra scored 6 off 13 balls before edging Edwards to Ramnaresh Sarwan, and Raina’s resistance ended when Rampaul bowled him in the 62nd over. India were all out for 246 in 61.2 overs, with Edwards (4/56), Rampaul (3/59), and Bishoo (3/75) leading the West Indies’ bowling.
West Indies began their reply late on Day 1, reaching 34/1 by stumps. Adrian Barath was the standout performer, scoring a gritty 64 off 122 balls with nine fours and a six. He started cautiously, surviving a probing spell from Praveen Kumar, who dismissed Lendl Simmons for 3 off 23 balls, caught by Murali Vijay at slip. Ramnaresh Sarwan struggled for 44 minutes, scoring 3 off 30 balls before Ishant Sharma trapped him lbw. Barath and Darren Bravo added 56 runs, with Bravo scoring 18 off 56 balls, including two fours, but Kumar struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Barath, caught by Dhoni, and Bravo, also caught behind, leaving West Indies at 95/4.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, known for his resilience, scored 23 off 74 balls with two fours but couldn’t anchor the innings, falling to Harbhajan Singh, caught by Mukund. Brendan Nash managed just 1 off 11 balls before Kumar had him caught by Raina. Carlton Baugh played a breezy 27 off 35 balls, hitting two fours and a six, but Harbhajan dismissed him, caught by Vijay. Daren Sammy, the captain, was bowled by Sharma for 1, and Chanderpaul’s dismissal soon after left West Indies at 152/8.
Ravi Rampaul remained not out on 14 off 19 balls, and Fidel Edwards scored 7 off 28 balls before Mishra had him caught by Dhoni. Bishoo’s 4 off 2 balls ended with a catch to Raina off Mishra, as West Indies were bowled out for 173 in 67.5 overs, trailing by 73 runs. Kumar (3/38), Sharma (3/29), Harbhajan (2/51), and Mishra (2/51) shared the wickets.
India’s second innings began poorly, with Rampaul striking early, trapping Murali Vijay lbw for a two-ball duck. Abhinav Mukund battled hard for 25 off 75 balls, hitting three fours, but Bishoo dismissed him, caught by Baugh. VVS Laxman lasted five balls, scoring 0 before Sammy induced a return catch. At 57/3, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli steadied the innings. Kohli, more composed than in his first innings, scored 15 off 54 balls with two fours, showing good judgment against Bishoo’s spin.
However, Edwards’ pace undid him again, as he edged to Baugh, ending a 43-run stand. Dravid, the rock of the innings, played a masterful 112 off 274 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six in a 402-minute marathon. He shared a 48-run stand with Suresh Raina, who scored 27 off 53 balls with three fours before Bishoo dismissed him, caught by Sammy. MS Dhoni smashed 16 off 16 balls, including a four and a six, but Bishoo struck again, with Edwards taking the catch.
Harbhajan (5) and Praveen Kumar (0) fell to Sammy, who bowled a tight spell. Amit Mishra played a handy 28 off 60 balls with four fours, adding 56 runs with Dravid. Ishant Sharma remained not out on 5, but Dravid fell in the 95th over to Bishoo, caught by Sarwan. India were bowled out for 252 in 94.5 overs, with Sammy (4/52), Bishoo (4/65), and Edwards (1/70) leading the attack.
Chasing 326, West Indies started aggressively, with Adrian Barath smashing 38 off 36 balls, including four fours and two sixes, before Kumar had him caught by Raina. Lendl Simmons scored 27 off 41 balls with three fours and a six but was bowled by Sharma, who also dismissed Sarwan for a two-ball duck. At 80/3, Darren Bravo (41 off 89 balls, seven fours) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (30 off 73 balls, four fours) added 68 runs, but Kumar struck twice, dismissing both, caught by Raina and Kohli, respectively.
Carlton Baugh fell for 0 to Harbhajan, and Brendan Nash’s 9 off 36 balls ended with an lbw to Mishra. Daren Sammy blasted 25 off 11 balls, hitting a four and three sixes, but Mishra dismissed him, caught by Laxman. Ravi Rampaul played a fiery 34 off 32 balls with six fours and a six, and Fidel Edwards battled for 15 not out off 54 balls. Devendra Bishoo’s 26 off 33 balls, with two fours and a six, kept the fight alive, but Suresh Raina’s part-time spin ended the innings, bowling Bishoo. West Indies were all out for 262 in 68.2 overs, 63 runs short. Kumar (3/42), Sharma (3/81), Mishra (2/62), Harbhajan (1/54), and Raina (1/9) shared the spoils.
After making his Test debut on June 20, 2011, against West Indies in Kingston, Virat Kohli carved out a legendary career as a batsman and captain. Over 123 Tests, he played 210 innings, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. His highest score of 254* reflects his ability to dominate attacks, while 30 centuries and 31 fifties, with 1,027 fours and 30 sixes, showcase his aggressive yet elegant style. Facing 16,608 balls at a strike rate of 55.57, Kohli combined patience with flair, also taking 121 catches in the field.
| Matches | Innings | Not Out | Runs | High Score | Average | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Catches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 123 | 210 | 13 | 9230 | 254* | 46.85 | 16608 | 55.57 | 30 | 31 | 1027 | 30 | 121 |
As India’s captain in a record 68 Tests, Kohli led with unmatched success, securing 40 wins, 11 draws, and just 17 losses, a loss rate of only 25%. His win percentage of 58.82% makes him India’s most successful Test captain ever. Under his leadership, India achieved historic milestones, including their first Test series win in Australia during the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli’s team also dominated the ICC Test Team Rankings, holding the No. 1 spot for five consecutive years from 2016 to 2021, and reached the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021. He finally retired on 12th May 2025, leaving behind a rich legacy in the Test Format.