Among the many beguiling memories from the Summer of Virat, there is one that does not feature his batting. On the opening day of the First Test of a mouth-watering series, England were in control on a balmy Birmingham afternoon. Jonny Bairstow, batting with Joe Root in an unruffled century stand, had worked an off-break to midwicket, where Kohli gave chase. The batsmen set off for what seemed like a humdrum two, before Root, halfway back, glanced at Kohli – and knew his day was done.

Kohli, as fit and fast a fielder as any India have produced, caught up with the ball, swivelled balletically, and threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end. As a diving Root dusted himself off and trudged back to the pavilion, Kohli bade him adieu with a series of kisses blown off an upturned palm. The kisses were delicious mischief. To those who say they were gratuitous, just try watching a replay: one cannot quite imagine that run-out, now, without those kisses.

That wicket caused England to subside from 216 for three to a below-par 287. How would India respond? In the depressing modern manner, Kohli’s side had come into the First Test with little preparation. He himself had not played a Test for more than six months, having missed the one-off encounter with Afghanistan in June – initially because he was planning to play for Surrey, though a neck injury scuppered that.