Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two modern-day icons of Indian cricket, recently bid farewell to the longest format of the game, marking the end of an era. While they are widely celebrated for their explosive partnerships in white-ball formats—especially in One Day Internationals where they formed one of the most successful duos in history—their contributions in Test cricket were equally valuable, albeit less highlighted.
Though they batted together less frequently in Tests due to differences in their batting positions and team strategies, whenever they did share the crease, they brought a sense of calm, control, and class to the innings. In 26 innings, the pair compiled 999 runs together, often rescuing India from tricky situations or laying strong foundations for big totals. Their Test partnerships showcased not only technical skill and temperament but also their deep understanding of each other’s game.
Here are the top 3 partnerships of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Test cricket:
3. Unbeaten 112 runs vs New Zealand – Wellington, 2014
One of their most memorable partnerships came not in a dominant win, but in a hard-fought draw. During the second Test against New Zealand at Wellington in 2014, India was facing a daunting situation in the fourth innings, chasing a target of 435. When India lost three wickets for just 54 runs, the match moving towards New Zealand’s victory. However, Rohit and Kohli stood tall, putting together an unbeaten 112-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Kohli remained unbeaten on 105, while Rohit played a gritty knock of 31 not out of 97 balls.
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2. 135 runs vs Sri Lanka – Delhi, 2017
During the third Test of the 2017 home series against Sri Lanka Rohit and Kohli built a dominant 135-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Kohli went on to score a double century, finishing with 243, while Rohit contributed a solid half-century in support. The partnership helped India post a massive first-innings total and eventually secure a strong position in the Test, continuing their unbeaten streak in the series.
1. 173 Runs vs Sri Lanka – Nagpur, 2017
In the second Test of the same series against Sri Lanka at Nagpur, Rohit and Kohli stitched together another massive 173-run stand for the fifth wicket. Rohit, returning to the Test setup, scored a fluent century with unbeaten 102, while Kohli led from the front with another majestic double hundred. Their partnership laid the foundation for India’s massive total of 610/6 declared, helping the team win the match by an innings and 239 runs. It showcased their ability to switch gears in Test cricket, blending patience with aggressive strokeplay as needed.
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