2017 has been a run feast for Virat Kohli. Last year he slightly missed out on Rahul Dravid’s record of most runs by an Indian in a calendar year but this year with 2818 runs to his name he achieved the record that speaks for consistency. 2017 has belonged to no one else like it has to Virat Kohli. It’s been an year of milestones, milestones and milestones for the Indian captain.
In 2017 Virat Kohli grew in stature as both, a batsman and a captain. The world is going crazy about Virat given Virat’s extraordinary display of batting and captaincy. The entire cricket fraternity is going gaga over the Indian Captain.
Here’s a timeline that sums up 2017 for Kohli.
January 5 : Kohli becomes captain for all formats
After Mahi stepped down from captaincy and shocked his fans, Kohli got to the helm for T20s and ODIs as well. A beautiful journey had begun with Kohli becoming the captain across all formats.
January 22 : First series win
England was thrashed 2-1 in the ODI series and this is how Kohli got his first ODI series win. Since then there’s no looking back.
February 1 : Maiden T20 Series Victory
India defeated England again, this time it was the T20 series. India best England 2-1 in the T20 series that followed the ODI series.
March 29, 2017 : First Test Series Win
India made Australia taste defeat in the 4 Match Test series. India won the series 2-1 and this was India’s first test series win under Virat Kohli and the elephant had been defeated this time. It was a moment of utter pride.
June 4, 2017 – First win in ICC Champions Trophy
It was the iconic India Pakistan encounter. Kohli and company defeated neighbours by 124 runs. India opened their Champions Trophy 2017 account by defeating arch rivals.
August 14 – Complete Whitewash on foreign soil
Virat Kohli became the first ever Indian captain to handover a 3-0 whitewash to Sri Lanka in a Test series at their own soil.
September 6, 2017 : Whitewash Yet Again
India played 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20s against Sri Lanka and won all of them. It was one extraordinary Whitewash handed over to Lankans by Kohli and his men.
Oct – Nov 2017 : Kangaroos and Kiwis Hunt
First India best the Aussies 4-1 in the ODI series and then drew the T20 series with 1 win each.
Then it was the turn for the Kiwis to be hunted. Kohli and Co. defeated Williamson’s men 2-1 in both, ODI series and T20 series.
October 22, 2017: Kohli surpasses Ponting
Kohli hit his 31st ODI century and the 29 year old went pass Ricky Ponting to be second on the list just behind Sachin Tendulkar.
November 20, 2017 : 50 International Tons
Kohli after being out for a duck in the first innings at the Eden Gardens, scored his 50th international ton in the second innings against Sri Lanka.
December 2 : 5000 Test runs
Virat Kohli became the 11th Indian to pile up 5000 Test runs. The feat was achieved at his own home ground, playing against Sri Lanka.
December 3: Most Double Centuries as Captain
Kohli hit his 6th double century and left behind Brain Lara to become the captain with most double centuries.
December 5 : Most runs by an Indian In a 3 Match Series
Kohli scored 610 runs at a staggering average of 152.5 and become the only Indian batsman to score so many runs in a 3 Test Series.
December 6 : 9th consecutive Test Series Win
Virat Kohli equalled Ricky Ponting’s record for captaincy. Australia won 9 Test series on the trot in 2004-2005. Now if India wins a test series in South Africa, Kohli would break this captaincy record.
