Virat Kohli has revisited one of the most intense and unforgettable moments of his Test career, reflecting on the infamous Johannesburg Test between India and South Africa that still stands out as one of the wildest matches ever played in red-ball cricket. In a candid recollection, the former India captain spoke about the match he would always want to be part of, even though it came with serious danger and constant uncertainty.

Looking back at the third Test of India’s 2018 tour of South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium, Kohli said it was the most dangerous pitch he had ever batted on. The surface had extreme bounce, sharp movement and unpredictable carry, making life miserable for batters from both sides. Even well-bowled deliveries were shooting up alarmingly, turning survival into a major challenge.

The conditions were so severe that players from both teams were struck repeatedly, with blows landing on fingers, arms and helmets throughout the contest. The atmosphere became even more tense when Jasprit Bumrah’s quick delivery hit South African batter Dean Elgar on the helmet, triggering immediate concern over player safety and prompting discussions about whether the match should continue.

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Despite the fear around the pitch, Kohli said India’s mindset during the Ravi Shastri era was built around resistance, courage and competitiveness. Even though South Africa and the match officials were seriously considering a forfeit because of the dangerous conditions, India were determined not to step away from the contest.

“South Africa, we’re playing in Joburg. Third Test. And Bumrah gets Dean Elgar, this guy from South Africa. He hits him on the head. It was a dangerous pitch, honestly. The most dangerous pitch that I’ve played on. The ball was hitting everyone left, right, and center. Kicking off from length,” Virat Kohli said in a YouTube video shared by one8 – Beyond the Boundary.

Kohli also revealed how South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and the officials were worried about the risk of someone getting seriously injured. However, India felt strongly that once two innings had already been played on the same surface, it was unfair to suddenly question the pitch at that stage. With India already trailing 2-0 in the series, the visitors were unwilling to settle for an easy way out.

“I heard everyone. And Faf was like, someone’s going to get hit. I said no. We need all of us to agree for this game to be called off. We want to play. If you guys want to forfeit at home, it’s your choice; it’s up to you. We’re going to go out there and play. Because we’ve had two innings. Now suddenly in the last innings, you can’t say the pitch is dangerous. You guys were trying to bounce our guys on a dangerous pitch. We’re going to take the field and we’re going to play,” Virat Kohli said.

India’s decision to fight on, even with the risk of a 3-0 series defeat, reflected the aggressive and fearless identity that Kohli often speaks about. The gamble paid off as India produced a memorable 63-run victory in Johannesburg to avoid the whitewash. Kohli himself led from the front with scores of 54 and 41, demonstrating the grit that defined his leadership.

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“We were 2-0 down. We were not scared of being 3-0 down. Yeah, we were 2-0 down. Like, for us, it was very easy to say, you know, take a draw, man. I mean, we won’t lose another one. It’s good only; one match will be a draw. No chance. We want to go and play. And we want to play in a certain way,” Kohli said.