Virat Kohli and Joe Root have been central figures in Test cricket for more than a decade, first as leading batters and then as captains of India and England.
Their captaincy records are now being discussed again after Root returned to the England leadership role in 2026. The 35-year-old took charge following Ben Stokes’ retirement from Test cricket and subsequently led England to a 3-0 series victory over Pakistan.
Kohli, meanwhile, has already completed his Test career. He retired from the format in May 2025 after 123 Tests and finished with 9,230 runs and 30 centuries. He remains India’s most successful Test captain by victories, with 40 wins in 68 matches.
Kohli’s 68-Test tenure
Kohli became India’s Test captain during the 2014-15 Australia tour and eventually led the side in 68 Tests between 2014 and 2022.
India won 40 of those matches, lost 17 and drew 11, giving Kohli a win percentage of 58.82 per cent. The International Cricket Council identifies the 40 victories as the highest total by an Indian Test captain.
One of the defining achievements of the Kohli era came in Australia. India secured their first Test series victory on Australian soil during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His teams also reached the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.
Kohli’s captaincy was also closely associated with India’s emphasis on fitness and the development of a strong pace-bowling unit. His leadership period saw India become increasingly competitive in overseas Test series.
Root’s record and his second stint
Root’s first spell as England Test captain ran from 2017 to 2022. During that period, he led England in a record 64 Tests, winning 27, losing 26 and drawing 11. Those 27 victories remain the most by an England men’s Test captain.
Root returned to the captaincy in July 2026 after Stokes retired from Test cricket. England subsequently swept Pakistan 3-0 in their three-Test home series, with Root contributing an unbeaten 62 in the third Test at Edgbaston.
Those three victories take Root’s captaincy record to 67 Tests, 30 wins, 26 losses and 11 draws.
That gives him a captaincy win percentage of about 44.8 per cent, compared with Kohli’s 58.8 per cent. The figures, however, come from different teams, periods and circumstances, so they do not by themselves provide a complete measure of leadership.
The numbers side by side
| Statistic | Virat Kohli | Joe Root |
|---|---|---|
| Team | India | England |
| Tests as captain | 68 | 67 |
| Wins | 40 | 30 |
| Losses | 17 | 26 |
| Draws | 11 | 11 |
| Captaincy win percentage* | 58.8% | 44.8% |
| Captaincy period | 2014-2022 | 2017-2022; 2026-present |
*Calculated as wins divided by Tests captained.
The comparison becomes more complicated when the context of their tenures is considered.
Root inherited an England side that went through several difficult periods during his first captaincy. England’s record included two 4-0 Ashes defeats in Australia, while the team also produced major series wins against India, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Kohli’s tenure, meanwhile, included India’s first Test series victory in Australia and sustained success at the top of the ICC Test rankings. ICC records show that India spent five consecutive years at No.1 in the Test team rankings during the broader Kohli leadership era.
Their batting added another dimension
Both players were major contributors with the bat while carrying the captaincy.
Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. As captain, he scored 5,864 Test runs according to the captaincy records reported by the BCCI.
Root has continued playing Test cricket and is now England’s leading Test run-scorer. He reached another career milestone during the 2026 Pakistan series, when his unbeaten 62 helped England complete the 3-0 sweep. Reuters described Root as the second-highest run-scorer in Test history following the series.
Root’s return also means the captaincy comparison is still developing. Unlike Kohli, whose Test leadership career is complete, Root has an ongoing second chapter as England captain.
Different leadership eras
The two careers also unfolded under different tactical environments.
Kohli’s India became particularly associated with fitness standards, aggressive Test cricket and a deep pace attack capable of operating successfully outside the subcontinent.
Root’s first England tenure preceded the team’s adoption of the highly aggressive “Bazball” approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. His return in 2026 therefore places him in a different team environment from the one he originally captained. Reuters reported that Stephen Fleming was appointed as England’s new head coach alongside Root’s return.
The statistics show a clear difference in match results, but captaincy also involves team strength, opposition, home and away conditions, player availability and the broader period in which the captain operates.
For now, the numerical record is straightforward: Kohli finished with 40 Test wins from 68 matches, while Root has reached 30 wins from 67 Tests after England’s 2026 Pakistan series. The next stage of Root’s second stint will determine how much further that record develops.
How many Tests did Virat Kohli captain India in?
Virat Kohli captained India in 68 Test matches, winning 40, losing 17 and drawing 11.
How many Tests has Joe Root captained England?
After returning to the role in 2026 and leading England in three Tests against Pakistan, Root has captained England in 67 Tests.
How many Test matches did Joe Root win as captain?
Root has 30 Test victories as England captain after England’s 3-0 series win over Pakistan in September 2026. His first captaincy stint produced 27 wins from 64 Tests, followed by three victories after his return.
How many Test wins did Virat Kohli have as captain?
Kohli won 40 of the 68 Tests in which he captained India.
When did Virat Kohli retire from Test cricket?
Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, ending a 123-Test career.
When did Joe Root return as England Test captain?
Root was reappointed England Test captain in July 2026 following Ben Stokes’ retirement from Test cricket.
What was Kohli’s Test captaincy win percentage?
Kohli’s record of 40 wins from 68 Tests gives him a 58.82 per cent win percentage.
What was Joe Root’s original Test captaincy record?
Before his return in 2026, Root had led England in 64 Tests, winning 27, losing 26 and drawing 11.
