Virat Kohli double century: Complete list of double tonnes scored by the king of cricket

Virat Kohli is one of the highest decorated players to ever play for India. While he has smashed many records throughout his decorated career, the number of double-hundreds that Virat has scored makes him shine bright in the annals of the cricketing spectrum. 

The distinguished cricketer has been the catalyst of India’s thumping batting order over the last decade. It is worth noting that Virat has a total of seven double centuries to his name, which is the highest by any Indian cricketer. He is followed by his idol Sachin Tendulkar(6) and Virender Sehwag. 

Let’s have a look at all of the double centuries that the Delhi-born cricketer has scored so far:

200 vs West Indies, 21 July 2016

When Virat looks back on his reign, he will recognize that 2016 was the year that brought the best out of him. The right-handed batter scored three double centuries in the respective year, establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with. It all started when the Men in Blue went off for a multi-format tour for the West Indies in 2016. 

The then skipper showed his class from the very first red-ball duel. The southpaw scored the first double-century of his career on the seam-friendly pitches of the Caribbean Islands. Not only did India impose a 2-0 victory over the hosts, but Virat emerged as the top scorer of the series. 

211 vs New Zealand, 8 October 2016

When New Zealand set out on a tour to India for a three-match Test and five-match ODI series, it was again the time for Virat and co. to show the Indian cricketing strength to the Kiwis. In the last Test when India was struggling at 100-3, Virat came out and unleashed havoc on New Zealand bowlers with his willow. He, alongside Ajinkya Rahane, crafted a record-breaking 365-run partnership for the fourth wicket, scoring 211 and 188 runs respectively. 

235 vs England, 8 December 2016

The best of Virat was unleashed in the last month of 2016 when England embarked on a tour to India. While India already won two out of the first three games, Virat smashed a thumping double ton in the last Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. His knock of 235 runs proved instrumental in India’s win by an innings and 36 runs. 

204 vs Bangladesh, 9 Feburary 2017

This brilliant knock of Virat came out in the only Test of the Bangladesh tour of India 2017. The prodigy bagged the Man of the Match award for his knock of 204 runs in the match, as India marked a comfortable 208-run victory over their neighbors.

213 & 243 vs Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka tour of India 2017/18 

A series to remember for Virat, the former Indian cricketer, shattered their neighboring Islanders in this tour. Riding high on the two double hundreds that he scored in the second (213) and third (243) Tests, Virat emerged as the Man of the Series with 610 runs in just five innings at a massive average of 152.50.

254* vs South Africa, 2 October 2019

A classy knock that came nearly six years ago, this is the last double century from Virat’s willow that the fans witnessed in the surreal atmosphere of Pune. A knock of 254 not out in the first innings of the second test by Virat marks the highest score by an Indian skipper in red-ball cricket. 

Moreover, this double-hundred marked his domination in the Indian cricketing spectacle as the man with the most double-hundreds, surpassing various Indian legends.

Most double centuries in International cricket: Where does Virat stand?  

A fun fact that makes this saga of double hundreds interesting is the position of Virat when it comes to the most number of double centuries in the International arena. While the legend Sir Don Bradman stands at the pinnacle with 12 200s, the Indian cricketer stands at the fourth spot with seven to his account. Ahead of him are the former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara (11) and the West Indies crackerjack Brian Lara (9). 

The heroic charisma of Virat: Inspiring generations to come

From a young boy who came in the Indian ranks through the U-19 cricket, to breaking the various records and standing amongst the greats, Virat has come a long way. From his debut in 2011 to leading his captaincy tenure, Indian cricket went through an immense transformation and achieved great heights. 

With his aggressive yet calculated approach, Virat has redefined the art of batting in the highly tough red-ball cricket. A major feature of his Test career has been his remarkable ability to convert the start into big scores and create pressure on the opponents. 

Virat’s influence on Indian cricket extends way beyond individual performances. It was he who fueled the Men in Blue with a fearless approach, transforming them into a solid unit no matter what the condition or who the opponent was. From time to time, he single-handedly carried the side on his shoulders and guided them to unimaginable wins. 

Though these stats speak volumes about Virat’s class, it can not be ignored that the latter has always put the team first rather than prioritizing personal milestones. Out of the seven double centuries scored by him, five came out in India’s winning cause, which defines the magnitude of these pivotal yet crucial knocks. Each one of these magical batting displays came in important moments, often tilting the tide of the game in India’s favor. 

These big knocks are a testament to Virat’s unwavering commitment to cricket, bolstered by his success-hungry approach to achieving more and more. In the modern era, where cricket is shrinking towards the shorter formats, the story of memorable knocks has set the bar high for generations to come.

It would be exciting to see which youngster possesses the ability to break Virat’s record of seven double centuries, or will this esteemed benchmark stay untouched?