Following India’s defeat in the 2022 Test series against South Africa, the Indian cricket team faced intense scrutiny and widespread criticism from both domestic and international quarters. Just one day after the series loss, Virat Kohli announced his resignation as the captain of the Indian Test squad. Prior to this decision, Kohli had already stepped down from the T20 International captaincy, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), then led by Sourav Ganguly, subsequently removed him from the One Day International (ODI) leadership role.
During his seven-year tenure as the Test captain, Kohli established himself as India’s most successful leader in the longest format of the game. Under his stewardship, India played 68 Test matches, securing victory in 40 of them, thereby setting a historic benchmark for Indian cricket.
Virat Kohli’s Test Captaincy Record
The table below outlines the definitive statistical breakdown of Virat Kohli’s seven-year tenure as India’s Test captain:
| Metric | Details |
| Tenure | 7 Years |
| Matches Led | 68 |
| Matches Won | 40 |
| Status | Most successful Test captain in Indian cricket history |
The Burden of Captaincy and Mental Fatigue
In a recent interview, Kohli offered a detailed reflection on the immense psychological pressure that prompted his departure from the leadership role. He stated that he was initially the mainstay of the team’s batting line-up before the added responsibility of captaincy was thrust upon him. Kohli admitted that he did not foresee the profound impact this sustained pressure would have on his personal and professional life, revealing that by the time he relinquished the captaincy, he felt completely depleted.
Kohli elaborated on the dual scrutiny an international captain faces, noting the constant dilemma where a captain is questioned if they fail to score runs despite a team victory, and equally blamed if they perform well but the team loses. He stated that constantly balancing these two anxieties left him mentally exhausted.
Net Anxiety and the Intervention of Rahul Dravid
The psychological toll also manifested as persistent self-doubt during training sessions. Kohli recounted feeling an ongoing apprehension that he was underperforming. Even when practicing in the nets, he was acutely aware of the younger players watching him, fearing that a poor practice session would lead them to question how he had managed to sustain his international career for so many years.
According to Kohli, India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, recognized the symptoms of burnout. Drawing from his own parallel experiences as a former international cricketer and captain, Dravid understood Kohli’s state of mind. Following Dravid’s guidance and counsel, Kohli was able to recalibrate his approach and begin enjoying the sport once again.