01 January,2018 08:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Harit N Joshi
2018 will be a litmus test for Kohli's India as they undertake major overseas assignments. There are plenty of occasions when the Indian team will have to prove their detractors wrong and shed its 'tigers at home, lambs abroad' tag
India players celebrate the wicket of Australia's Peter Handscomb on Day Four of the second Test at Bangalore in March last year
Virat Kohli's honeymoon period is over -- as far as his role as the Indian captain is concerned. India once again reinforced their dominance at home by remaining unbeaten across all formats - four Test series, six ODI series and four T20I series.
However, next year will be a litmus test for Kohli's India as they undertake major overseas assignments. There are plenty of occasions when the Indian team will have to prove their detractors wrong and shed its 'tigers at home, lambs abroad' tag. On January 5 last year, Mahendra Singh Dhoni relinquished his captaincy from the limited overs as Kohli took the hot seat in all formats.
Under Kohli's leadership, India finished the year as the No.1 Test team with just one defeat and three draws in 11 matches last year. Kohli led by example where he finished the year with 1059 runs in 16 innings, averaging 75.64.
In 29 ODI matches in 2017, India, who ended up as Champions Trophy runners up, tasted success in 21 matches, lost seven and a no result. In 11 T20 Internationals, India won eight and faced defeats in three games last year.
Even though Kohli was not part of the three-match ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka, India managed to end it on a high with Rohit Sharma as the leader.
The expectations are sky from Kohli & Co. to replicate their success at home in foreign conditions too. Their big New Year challenge will be the three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is against South Africa.
From July to September, India will tour to England for three T20Is and ODIs, and five Tests. And later in the year, India is scheduled to travel to Australia.
While India have never won a Test series in South Africa, their best result came in 2010-11 tour when the three-Test series was drawn 1-1.
The last two tours to England and Australia have been forgettable for Team India. In 2011-12 tours, England and Australia whitewashed 4-0.
The last time India toured England in 2014, India registered only their second Test victory with a triumph at Lord's, but lost the series 3-1. In the 2014-15 tour to Australia, India came close to winning in Adelaide and Brisbane before drawing the Melbourne and Sydney Tests.
With no ICC events in 2018, the success of Kohli's Team India will be measured from their overseas performances.
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