Interesting Cricket Records (Virat Kohli Improved His Highest Test Score 15 Times — A Unique Feat in History): As Virat Kohli brought down the curtain on his legendary Test career, most of the attention rightly focused on his 123 Tests, 9,230 runs, and 30 centuries. But one lesser-known record deserves just as much applause: Kohli improved his highest Test score 15 times during his career, a feat no other player in Test history has matched.
Kohli began his Test journey in 2011 against the West Indies in Kingston, scoring just 4 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, he slightly improved that to 15. But that modest beginning was the start of a trend that would define his career—the relentless pursuit of bettering himself.
Each time Kohli notched up a new top score, he didn’t stop there. From early half-centuries to double centuries, he constantly raised the bar. It’s a remarkable contrast to many players whose best innings come early—or just once.
This achievement stands out even more when viewed alongside players like Tim Southee, Darren Gough, Romesh Kaluwitharana, and Andrew Hudson—all of whom never surpassed the high watermark they set on debut.
Alec Stewart and Stuart Broad are two other notable names who didn’t cross their highest Test score for the most Tests, although this sequence doesn't start from their debut:
Stuart Broad (England): He scored 169, his only Test hundred, in his 32nd Test and played further 135 Tests without reaching even a hundred.
Alec Stewart (England): He scored 190 in his 18th Test, and this remained his highest Test score till the end although he played 115 more Tests after that.
Kohli’s ability to consistently evolve, adapt, and outperform himself highlights not just talent, but discipline, hunger, and mental strength—the very traits that made him one of the modern greats.
In a sport where many fade after early brilliance, Kohli’s career arc was the opposite: a masterclass in progress, chapter after chapter.
See how Virat kept on improving his top test score (the date mentioned is of the first day of the Test):
- 4 vs West Indies, Kingston, June 20, 2011
- 15 vs West Indies, June 20, 2011
- 27 vs West Indies, Bridgetown, June 28, 2011
- 30 vs West Indies, Roseau, July 6, 2011
- 52 vs West Indies, Mumbai, November 22, 2011
- 63 vs West Indies, Mumbai, November 22, 2011
- 75 vs Australia, Perth, January 13, 2012
- 116 vs Australia, Adelaide, January 24, 2012
- 119 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, December 18, 2013
- 141 vs Australia, Adelaide, December 9, 2014
- 169 vs Australia, Melbourne, December 26, 2014
- 200 vs West Indies, North Sound, July 21, 2016
- 211 vs New Zealand, Indore, 8 October 2016
- 235 vs England, Mumbai, 8 December 2016
- 243 vs Sri Lanka, Delhi, 2 December 2017
- 254* vs South Africa, Pune, 10 October 2019
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In Test cricket, he is the only player to surpass his top score 15 times.