Virat Kohli is considered by some to be the greatest of all time in ODIs. He holds many batting records in ODI cricket with never seen consistency. He is the fastest to 12,000+ ODI runs and already has 43 centuries to his name. only behind legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, in the list of most centuries scored by any in the 50-over format. Virat Kohli’s sublime timing and his footwork are always a treat to watch. His ability to score against the seam, spin, and swing irrespective of the conditions has made him a modern-day great of the game. He is the only batsman who averaged more than 50 in all formats of the game for quite a long time. In this article we've compiled the top 10 knocks played by the Former Team India skipper in ODIs:
133* vs Sri Lanka, Hobart, 2012:
This is arguably Virat Kohli’s best ODI innings to date. The importance of this knock was so high as India needed to chase down a target of 300 plus runs in 37 overs to stay alive in the tri-series in 2012 which was played in Australia. India lost Sachin and Sehwag early and were in a spot of bother. Kohli built a partnership with Gautam Gambir and after Kohli reached 50 he started to score at a very quick pace the way he decimated Lasith Malinga was one of the highlights of the knock. This was the knock with which Kohli stamped his name as the chase master.
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122 vs England, Pune, 2016:
This series was special for Virat Kohli as he was appointed as the full-time captain of India in ODIs. India was in trouble chasing a target of 350 runs. Kohli yet again raised to the occasion and scored in what was the best ODI innings as a captain of India. Kohli formed a partnership with Kedar Jadhav and the duo took it to the England bowlers. The century was Virat Kohli’s 27th ODI hundred and he once again proved to the world that he is the Chase Master.
183 vs Pakistan, Dhaka, 2012:
March 18th, 2012 the day that every India Pakistan and cricket fan will remember. It was the day when Virat Kohli was in absolute destruction and pure carnage. He demolished the Pakistan bowling lineup and scored his highest score in ODIS to date. Kohli’s Majestic 183 helped India register a 6-wicket win over Pakistan. Interestingly this match was Sachin Tendulkar’s last ODI match. This Knock stands in all-time best knocks in India-Pakistan Matches.
100* vs Australia, Jaipur, 2013:
The series between India and Australia was when Virat Kohli produced one of the best memorable innings while chasing. India chasing a target of 360 was going well with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma adding 176 runs for the first wicket. Kohli came into bat with India still needing more than 170 runs. Kohli showed his six-hitting range in this match and went on to score the fastest 100 ever scored by an Indian in 52 balls.
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154* vs New Zealand, Mohali, 2016:
This masterpiece knock came in 2016 when India was set a target of 285 runs to chase down. The conditions were tricky and the ball was not coming onto the bat. India lost their openers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane early then as always Virat Kohli took the responsibility for the chase. Dhoni played the anchor role and the duo went on to chase the target against the lethal pace attack of Tim Southee, and Matt Henry. Virat Kohli was unbeaten on 154* in 134 balls this was Kohli’s 26th ODI century.
The first hundred (2009 vs Sri Lanka):
India was looking to win the five-match series in Kolkata. Sri Lanka had registered a huge score of 315 and Suranga Lakmal had removed openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in no time. India was reeling at 23/2 in the fourth over. Despite having senior batsman Gautam Gambhir at the other end, Kohli pierced gaps at will and counter-punched with carefree abandon. Gambhir played an anchor role as the Delhi duo stitched a massive 224-run stand. Just weeks after turning 21, Kohli got to his first ODI hundred. He didn’t see the team across the line, though, falling for 107. Gambhir did the rest, chasing down the total to hand India the series with a classy unbeaten 150. After winning the Man of the Match award, the southpaw handed it over to his younger teammate, a gesture seldom seen in international cricket.
Birth of the chaser (2010 vs Australia):
The venue was Visakhapatnam and the countdown had begun for the 2011 World Cup on home soil, which was less than six months away. Kohli was going through a prolonged run of bad form. The visiting Australians scored a formidable 289/3 courtesy of a century from skipper Michael Clarke and a blitzkrieg from Cameron White. Yet again, the odds were stacked against India as a makeshift opening pair of Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan (Yes, in an ODI) fell cheaply. Teaming up with established middle-order batsmen Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, Kohli scored a timely hundred to set up the win. He braved his way through cramps in the back end of the innings. Kohli followed this effort with another century against New Zealand weeks later. This knock was a clear indicator of where the team management would play him in the years to come in limited-overs cricket. Kohli, after the game, admitted that he was “under pressure” to score runs coming into this game.
139 vs Sri Lanka 2014:
Barring Ajantha Mendis and Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lankans lacked experience. During this five-match ODI series, Kohli got a taste of captaincy (not for the first time) with MS Dhoni being rested. A brutal unbeaten hundred by Mathews saw Sri Lanka, who were looking to avoid a 0-5 whitewash set a steep target of 287. Batting was not easy on this Ranchi pitch and barring Ambati Rayudu, none of the Indian batsmen gave Kohli company at the crease. The skipper was in danger of running out of partners. Sri Lanka looked set to grab a consolation win. When Ravichandran Ashwin was out, India needed 56 runs from 40 balls with just three wickets in hand. With the help of Axar Patel, Kohli launched a timely assault and India chased down the target comfortably. There was a touch of Javed Miandad during this Kohli masterpiece.
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160* vs South Africa 2018:
After losing the Test series, India were dominating South Africa in the ODI series. In this match in Cape Town, Kohli and the visitors were combating a see-saw wicket. Initially, the ball was coming on to the bat. As the first innings progressed, the seamers gained the upper hand. At one stage, India were looking good for score close to 350. Wickets tumbled but Kohli’s run-glut continued. His batting in the final ten overs was a sight to to behold. And, he stayed there till the end. This was after Kohli was given out leg-before for a duck but survived after a review. He also endured a torrid time in the early stages of his stay at the crease. The South Africans dithered and Kohli took the match away from them.
107 against Pakistan 2015:
It was a World Cup match against Pakistan and understandably, there was pressure on the defending champions. On this occasion, Kohli showed that he can be a master crafter and not just a master blaster. He stitched a steady 129-run stand with Dhawan. Kohli’s 107 was laced with only eight boundaries. Nonetheless, it was in a winning cause and India extended their undefeated streak against Pakistan in World Cups.
