Some innings just stick with you. And when it comes to Virat Kohli’s highest score in Test cricket, it’s hard not to smile and say, “Yep, that was something else.” That 254 not out against South Africa in 2019 wasn’t just about big numbers, it was Kohli doing what he does best: taking complete control, batting like a machine, and making the bowlers feel powerless.
Sure, he’s played a ton of incredible knocks, but this one? It felt like a masterclass in how to dominate without ever breaking a sweat. Let’s take a look at that knock and two more that deserve a place in the conversation around Virat Kohli’s best score in Test matches.
Three Kohli Classics You Just Can’t Forget
Virat Kohli’s highest Test score was an unbeaten 254 against South Africa in Pune in 2019. 👍 👍
His flawless innings was full of skill & authority, helping India win by an innings. The performance was widely praised for its brilliance. 👌 👌#TeamIndia | #ViratKohli |… pic.twitter.com/EryoKtpb5a
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 12, 2025
1. 254* vs South Africa, Pune (2019)
“Virat Kohli’s highest score in Test”
Let’s start with the big one, Virat Kohli’s highest score in Test cricket. He walked in with India at 163 for 2, which isn’t exactly the worst position to be in. But what followed was pure theatre, minus the drama. Kohli settled in, built steady partnerships, and just kept going. No rush, no flashy shots, just crisp boundaries, perfect timing, and the kind of focus that doesn’t slip for even a second.
Virat Kohli’s 254* in Test cricket still remains to be the highest individual score by an Indian captain.🫡
He explains what makes the broth of greatness a perfect one, in the ‘Home Sweet Home’ episode. This is 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗣𝗟 edition of… pic.twitter.com/4AOsmgO0tC
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) October 13, 2024
He scored 254* with two sixes, which is a rare sight in a Kohli innings, especially in Test cricket. Thirty-three fours, tons of running between the wickets, and not one sign of tiredness or risk. Every shot looked like it came straight out of a coaching manual. It was the kind of innings that makes bowlers shake their heads and captains lose sleep.
Virat Kohli, The GOAT. pic.twitter.com/rN2BMAmgw9
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 19, 2023
India declared at 601/5, and South Africa never even came close. This wasn’t just Virat Kohli’s best score in Test cricket in terms of numbers it was domination in its cleanest form. Clinical, classy, and completely Kohli.
2. 141 vs Australia, Adelaide (2014)
Okay, so this one wasn’t a win, but oh boy, it was memorable. It was Kohli’s first Test as captain, and he decided to chase 364 on the final day in Adelaide. Most skippers would’ve played for a draw, but not Kohli. He went all-in, trusted his instincts, and in the process, played one of the gutsiest knocks of his life, one that truly set the tone for his captaincy style.
Virat Kohli made a stunning Debut as India’s Test Captain in 2014 against Australia in Adelaide.
He made history by becoming only the 4th Indian batter to score a century in both innings of a Test, with brilliant knocks of 115 and 141 in the 2014/15 season.#TeamIndia |… pic.twitter.com/L6pB3uMCnZ
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 12, 2025
He smashed 141 off 175 balls, fast-paced, fearless, and totally on brand. He took on Nathan Lyon on a turning track, ducked and drove against Mitchell Johnson, and made sure Australia felt the heat. His footwork was sharp, his shot selection precise, and his intent crystal clear. Sure, India lost the match, but this innings made fans believe that Kohli wasn’t just a white-ball king. It proved he had the grit and game for red-ball cricket too. If Virat Kohli’s highest score in Test was about longevity, this was about intent, and many still consider it to be Virat Kohli’s best score in Test conditions outside Asia.
3. 149 vs England, Edgbaston (2018)
Ah, the sweet taste of redemption. Remember 2014, when Kohli just couldn’t buy a run in England? Fast forward to 2018, and he walked out at Edgbaston like a man on a mission. India was wobbling, wickets falling left and right, but Kohli stood tall, calm, and determined to write a different script this time.
Birmingham witnessed regal defiance as the King struck his 22nd Test ton against 🏴.#OnThisDay in 2018, Kohli single-handedly led the Indian batting against England’s formidable bowling attack. 🔥#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/kKUbjZkS19
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) August 2, 2024
He scored a brilliant 149 on a pitch doing all sorts of tricks, against bowlers like Anderson and Broad, who had made his life miserable four years earlier. The crowd was loud, the pressure was huge, but Kohli batted like he had something to prove and he did. What made this innings extra special was how he managed the lower order.
A second century of the series for India captain Virat Kohli.
Scorecard & Clips: https://t.co/y3TN6D5ug2#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/j4msHjbs45
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 20, 2018
He smartly farmed the strike, kept the scoreboard ticking, and single-handedly gave India a fighting total. It wasn’t Virat Kohli’s highest score in Test cricket, but emotionally? It might just be Virat Kohli’s best score in Test cricket, because that was the day he buried the ghosts of 2014 for good.
Kohli in Test Whites？Always a Treat
So there you have it, three Kohli knocks that fans still talk about over chai and post-match WhatsApp chats. Virat Kohli’s highest score in Test cricket the 254* was all about dominance without the drama. Then there was the bold 141 in Adelaide, and of course, the redemptive 149 in England. Different venues, different stakes but the same old Kohli: calm under pressure, hungry for runs, and never boring to watch, no matter the conditions.
Whites off, crown intact 👑
Virat Kohli bids goodbye to Test cricket, leaving behind an unmatched legacy 👏
✍️: https://t.co/VjuXwUrl8P pic.twitter.com/6apbXkubQ0
— ICC (@ICC) May 12, 2025
Honestly, when you think about Virat Kohli’s best score in Test cricket, it’s hard to pick just one. But whether it’s the marathon double hundred or the gritty tons abroad, one thing’s for sure: Kohli knows how to put on a show in whites. And for fans, that’s always been part of the fun, the thrill, and the magic of watching him bat live.
