Virat Kohli: World Cricket's Player of the Month, August 2015

As if things couldn't get any better for Virat Kohli, after leading India to their first away Test-series win since 2011, the Indian captain has also been named the Bleacher Report player of the month for August!

There were plenty of other candidates who entered consideration for this highly coveted award, such as Stuart Broad for his Trent Bridge heroics and more sentimental options like Michael Clarke and Kumar Sangakkara, who have retired (Kumar will continue to play domestically) after incredible careers.

However, for managing to guide India to victory when the statistics and a defeat in the series' opening Test were against him, Kohli deserves the plaudits.

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Congrats Team India! Terrific come back after being one down in the series. Way to go @imVkohli & Team India. Wish you many more victories.

— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 1, 2015"

Traditionally notorious travellers, as well as winning just one Test series in history on Sri Lankan shores, India had only tasted victory twice in their last 25 overseas Tests.

And, after going 0-1 down in the series, they have only managed to come back and go on and win twice throughout their entire cricketing history.

As if that wasn't difficult enough, while Sri Lanka aren't perhaps as strong as they used to be, a raft of injuries to key players and some difficult selection issues led to India using 16 different players in just three matches.

Lesser-willed teams would have collapsed, but Kohli has been inspirational throughout, marshalling his charges positively and sensibly to play without fear.

True, the plan to play five out-and-out bowlers at Galle backfired, but with some slight alterations to improve the batting strength, the tactic was clearly a success.

In fact, India's attack took a maximum 60 wickets that were available to them across the series.

Equally impressive was the confidence he showed in the oft-dropped pair of Ishant Sharma and R Ashwin, who responded with 34 victims between them.

Of course, as any captain will tell you, it is a lot easier to stamp your authority over a side when your own game is in order.

A ton at Galle, which, despite holding a 192-run first inning's advantage, turned into a surprising defeat, proved his form, while a fluent 78 at Colombo, rescued his side from a precarious position of 12/2.

Eranga Jayawardena/Associated Press

In all, across a series peppered with low scores, Kohli finished with 233 runs, the most by an Indian player and the third highest from any batsman in the series.

And the evident euphoria on the pitch, when Amit Mishra trapped Nuwan Pradeep LBW, showed that this ultra-talented player has managed to achieve the almost impossible task of replacing the revered MS Dhoni.

With South Africa visiting India for a four-Test series in November, further challenges lie ahead, but one thing is for sure: With Kohli at the head, India's Test cricket future looks bright.