India, May 12 -- It's the eyes that have never lied. Piercing, brooding, simmering with calculations that work out scenarios before they even play out. Beneath the helmet visor, veiling over the perfectly manicured beard, Kohli staring at the ground intensely, waiting for his turn, was a lasting image for over a decade.

Every batter is as good as his last innings, but with Kohli - as was the sentiment with Sachin Tendulkar - something clicked beyond the usual sense of assurance. Intent wasn't part of the cricket's glossary of terms till Kohli made it mandatory with his steadfastness. Good games or bad, Kohli never lacked it. He was all heart, all in, every time.

Test cricket benefited from it the most, particularly in the grandest of se...