Every ‘First’ For Virat Kohli In His Test Career: First Boundary, First Fifty & More

Do you remember which bowler Virat Kohli hit his first boundary against? Or against whom he scored his first ever duck? Or when and where he registered his first ever fifty?

If you don’t, it’s okay, we’ve got you covered. In a very unique look-back, we go through every ‘first’ Kohli achieved and endured in his 123-match long Test career.

First Test match - vs West Indies in Kingston in 2011

A 22-year-old Kohli debuted under the captaincy of MS Dhoni away in the West Indies. He registered scores of 4 & 15. 

First dismissal - c Carlton Baugh (wk) b Fidel Edwards

Outside edge to the wicketkeeper. Spoilers: major foreshadowing. 

First boundary - scored against Fidel Edwards

Clipped off the pads. Again, major foreshadowing. 

First duck - vs West Indies in Bridgetown in 2011

0 off 2 balls, in just his second-ever Test and third-ever innings. 

First catch - Ramnaresh Sarwan in Kingston in 2011

Off the bowling of Ishant Sharma. Kohli took two catches in that game - Sarwan and Baugh.

First fifty - vs West Indies at Wankhede in 2011

In his first home game and his sixth Test, Kohli brought up his maiden fifty. He would end up scoring twin fifties in that match (52 & 63).

First six - scored against Fidel Edwards

Kohli hit the first of 30 sixes in his career in his second-ever Test. Again, off the bowling of Fidel Edwards. Fun fact: Kohli was 0* off 18 balls and on a pair when he hit the six. What nerves?

First century - vs Australia in Adelaide, 2012

This came under immense pressure, with Kohli having his back against the wall, having had an indifferent start to his red-ball career. India were already 0-3 down in the series and Kohli proved to be the only shining light of that tour.

First run out - vs Australia in Adelaide, 2012

Century in the first innings, run out for 22 in the second innings. His partner at the other end? A very good friend of his, Ishant Sharma.

First century at home - vs New Zealand in Bengaluru, 2012

This came just 3 innings after the ton in Adelaide. Kohli batted thrice in this series against the Blackcaps and crossed the 50-run mark all three times.

First dismissal in the 90s - vs South Africa in Johannesburg, 2013

One of two dismissals in the 90s for Kohli, with the other being against England in Nottingham, 2018.

First match as captain - vs Australia in Adelaide, 2014

115 & 141, the turning point of his Test career and also a significant moment in Indian Test history. This was also the first and only time Kohli hit twin centuries in a Test.

First match and series win as captain - vs Sri Lanka in Colombo, 2015

0-1 down, failing to chase 176 in the fourth innings, to a  2-1 series win. A watershed moment for Kohli’s captaincy.

First match and series win at home as captain - vs South Africa in 2015

A series that had everything, and also a series that made it clear that India, under Kohli, would prioritise victory over everything, even if it meant batting averages took a hit due to rank turners.

First double century - vs West Indies in North Sound, 2016

You cannot tell the story of Virat Kohli the Test cricketer, without involving the West Indies. Anyway, this would prove to be the first of seven double tons he would score in his career, and the first of six he would score in the space of 16 months. 

First hit wicket - vs England in Rajkot, 2016

First and only hit wicket of Kohli’s Test career. Came against England in 2016 off the bowling of Adil Rashid, where he disturbed the wickets with his foot.

First time out stumped - vs Australia in Delhi, 2023

The first and only stumping of Kohli’s Test career. Stumped Alex Carey bowled Todd Murphy.