India, May 12 -- A tepid start and a less-than-memorable ending bookended a career most glorious as Virat Kohli redefined the contours of Test batsmanship, especially during an unparalleled five-year stretch when he was by a distance the best batter in the world.

An eventual average of 46.85 from 123 games doesn't do justice to the impact the 36-year-old had on the five-day game. The dramatic dip in numbers from the beginning of 2020 did take some sheen off a journey of numerous spectacular highs, but it will do little to erode his standing as one of the country's greatest batters of all time.

Numerically, both in runs scored and centuries amassed, Kohli slots in at No. 4, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and the great Sunil Gavask...