India's Test cricket icons: The legacy of Kohli and Sharma
If you’re an avid follower of Indian cricket, you can always tell the difference between two of their most iconic players. One had fire in his eyes while gripping the bat like a sword. The other played like a calm tide, steady and focused. Together, they helped shape a golden era for India’s red-ball journey.
Virat Kohli’s fierce energy lit up every field he stood on, while Rohit Sharma’s quiet confidence spoke through each bat he flicked. Now, with both stepping away from Test cricket, it feels like a book has closed in Indian cricket’s story.
They weren’t just players; Kohli and Sharma became the squad’s pillars, in terms of form, fight, and faith. Over the years, they carried the pressure, hope, and pride of millions of fans. Here’s a look back at how these two changed the face of Indian Test cricket, and see why their legacy will never be forgotten.
The rise of the icons
Their roads to greatness didn’t start the same way. Rohit Sharma burst into the Test scene in 2013 against the West Indies. In his first two games, he struck back-to-back centuries, which proved that his talent isn’t only fit for white-ball cricket.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, faced his early struggles. His 2011–12 Australia tour tested him hard. Yet, he rose to the challenge in Adelaide, scoring a century that showed he had what it takes to be a champ on the field. These innings became his turning point.
During MS Dhoni’s final years as Test captain, both men played in the shadows. There were doubts, as Kohli was seen as too aggressive and Sharma as too unsure. Time gave them the space to grow, and before they knew it, they were already shaping the future of India’s Test cricket.
The duo’s impact on Indian cricket
Kohli took over as India’s Test captain in 2014. He pushed for discipline and made fitness non-negotiable. Under his leadership, India went from strong at home to bold abroad.
This allowed Kohli’s intense passion and playing form to bloom stronger. He also acknowledged his tendency to be aggressive on the field. He shared, ‘The kind of person I am, the kind of personality I have, yes, I do have tendencies to kind of go overboard. And I've never shied away from that’.
Think of the big wins that followed under his captaincy—India’s first-ever Test series victory in Australia in 2018. Even their fierce fight in England back in 2021 was iconic. It was unfinished but just as iconic as their other games.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma’s full bloom in Tests came later. However, once he moved to the top of the order in 2019, Sharma became a force on the field. His patience, timing, and control helped maintain India’s innings in every match. As a skipper, he brought calmness even in the most intense moments.
Together, they didn’t just win each match. They also shaped a team that could take on anyone. Their partnership brought strength, clarity, and a deep sense of belief in the Indian white squad.
Defining moments: Matches that made their Test legacy
Every icon has that one match that shifts history. Across their Test careers, Kohli and Sharma delivered some of the finest individual performances in Indian cricket. Here are the defining innings that shaped their careers in whites:
Kohli’s 141 in Adelaide (2014)
- Match: 1st Test vs Australia, Adelaide Oval
- Result: Australia won by 48 runs
Chasing 364 on the final day, Kohli played a fearless knock of 141 off 175 balls. He took on the Australian attack with bold strokes, even as wickets fell at the other end. India didn’t win, but his intent changed how you saw Indian cricket abroad. It was leadership through example.
Kohli’s 149 at Edgbaston (2018)
- Match: 1st Test vs England, Edgbaston
- Result: England won by 31 runs
During this match, India were struggling. The ball was swinging under clouds, and English bowlers were in full rhythm. Then Kohli stepped in with a gritty 149 in the first innings. He battled James Anderson’s spells and silenced the doubters who said he couldn’t perform in English conditions. It was one of the toughest knocks of his career.
Rohit Sharma’s debut century at Eden Gardens (2013)
- Match: 2nd Test vs West Indies, Kolkata
- Result: India won by an innings and 51 runs
Rohit had waited years for this chance. On his West Indies debut, he made 177 with calmness and flair. In the next match, he scored an unbeaten 111 in Mumbai. It was a dream start, and it shut down critics who felt he didn’t belong in red-ball cricket.
Sharma’s 212 vs South Africa (2019)
- Match: 3rd Test vs South Africa, Ranchi
- Result: India won by an innings and 202 runs
This innings proved that Rohit could thrive as a Test opener. He crafted 212 runs with sharp footwork and precise timing on a slow pitch. It helped India seal a 3-0 sweep and cemented his role at the top of the order.
Farewell, champs
One didn’t need to watch every match to feel their presence. Their recent exit from Test cricket came not with a bang but an ache. Fans flooded timelines with photos, stats, and tearful posts. ‘End of an era,’ most headlines read, and it felt true.
India’s symbols of a decade of Indian dominance, fight, and spirit, have now reached their end. Their absence now marks a new chapter, but what remains is the culture they built.
The next generation of Indian Test cricket will step up. Young stars like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal often point to them as inspirations, standing on the solid base that Kohli and Sharma helped shape.
