Top 10 Unforgettable Kohli Innings

Indian team's former captain and star batsman Virat Kohli is celebrating his 36th birthday today. In the year 2024, King Kohli retired from T20I cricket after India won the title in T20 World Cup 2024. Now he is seen playing in Test and ODI cricket. In his 15-year-long career, Virat has played many important and excellent innings for Team India. So, on his special day let's talk about the top 10 unforgettable Kohli innings.

Also Read: Is it the end of Rohit-Kohli? How can India qualify for WTC final? Who else whitewashed India at home?

 Unforgettable Kohli Innings

183 (148 balls) vs Pakistan, 2012

In the Asia Cup held in 2012, India faced Pakistan at Mirpur ground. Batting first, Pakistan scored 329 runs in 50 overs thanks to centuries from Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed. India, which set out to chase the target of 330 runs, got a setback in the very first over. Opener Gautam Gambhir was out. After this Virat came to bat and scored 183 runs in 148 balls. This included 22 fours and one six. With this, the 'Player of the Match' award went to Kohli's account. This is Kohli's best score in ODI.

133 not out (86 balls) vs Sri Lanka, 2012

India faced Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank Series held in February 2012. In this match, the Sri Lankan team scored 320 runs in the stipulated 50 overs. To reach the final of this tri-series, Team India had to reach the target within 40 overs. With this India started batting aggressively. In this sequence, openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag lost their wickets at the score of 86 runs. After this Kohli came to the crease and scored 133* runs in 86 balls with the help of 16 fours and 2 sixes. After this, Team India won the match in just 37 overs.

82 not out (51 balls) vs Australia, 2016

In 2016, the Indian team played the T20 World Cup Super 10 match against Australia in Mohali. Batting first, the Australian team scored 160 runs in 20 overs. Team India faltered while chasing the target. They scored only 49 runs in 8 overs and lost three wickets. At some time, India needed 39 off the last three overs. Kohli performed brilliantly in this sequence and scored 82* runs in 51 balls with the help of 9 fours and two sixes. With this India defeated the Australian team with five balls to spare.

149 (225 balls) vs England, 2018

In August 2018, Team India played a Test match against England at Edgbaston. Batting first, the English team scored 287 runs in the first innings. After this, the Indian team came to bat and scored 50 runs without losing any wicket. After this the team lost three wickets within nine runs. Then Virat Kohli took the innings forward with Ajinkya Rahane. Kohli scored 149 runs in 225 balls with the help of 22 fours and one six. With this, Team India scored 274 runs in the first innings despite the failure of other batsmen.

82 not out (53 balls) vs Pakistan, 2022

In the T20 World Cup 2022, India faced arch-rivals Pakistan on 23 October 2022 in Melbourne which will forever remain etched in fans’ memories. In this match, Pakistan, batting first, scored 159 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs. Team India faltered while chasing the target. Lost 4 important wickets for 31 runs. Kohli played a courageous innings in that match. He scored 82 runs in just 53 balls, arguably one of the greatest knocks in T20 cricket. Just when the match was looking like it was slipping from India's grasp, the batting great slammed two sixes off Haris Rauf's last over to seal one of the most famous wins against Pakistan in World Cups.

100 (52 balls) vs Australia, 2013

Chasing a target of 360, Virat along with Rohit Sharma looted the Australian bowlers of these runs and self-respect as they were mercilessly thrashed all over the park at Jaipur. Kohli smashed the fastest ODI ton by an Indian in just 52 balls, with eight fours and seven sixes as India chased down the total in 43.3 overs with nine wickets to go. 

141 (175 balls) vs Australia, 2014

Virat led India in his first-ever match as a captain in whites. In a statement of intent, he decided to go for a win while chasing 364 in the final 98 overs of the match on the final day. He scored 141 in 175 balls, with 16 fours and six on this Adelaide pitch. This marked the starting point of Kohli's legacy as Test captain, marked with intent, positivity and fearlessness. 

94 not out (50 balls) vs West Indies, 2019

The West Indies suffered at the hands of Kohli, who blazed his way to 94 from 50 balls in the first T20 International in Hyderabad. West Indies had amassed a huge 207/5 on a flat wicket and India, despite losing Rohit Sharma early, started strongly as Kohli and KL Rahul (62 from 40 balls) put on 100 runs for the second wicket from 61 balls. Kohli struggled at the start, scoring run-a-ball 20 before an angry exchange with West Indies pacer Kesrick Williams saw him turn things around. He raced to his fifty from 35 balls, before he smashed 44 from the next 15 balls to finish not out on 94, his highest T20I score then as India won by six wickets with eight balls remaining.

160 not out (159 balls) vs South Africa, 2022

In the third ODI at Cape Town, Kohli played one of his finest ODI knocks, scoring 160* in 159 balls with 12 fours and two sixes, scoring the other hundred runs with his ever-supreme running between the wickets. India won the match by 124 runs defending 304 runs and the series as well. 

122 not out (61 balls) vs Afghanistan, 2022

Though it came in dead rubber match of the Asia Cup and India was already out, this innings is still significant given that Virat was battling a three-year-long century drought. He scored 122* in just 61 balls, with 12 fours and six sixes, helping India to a consolation win and millions had a sigh of relief with Kohli back at his best. This was his 71st century, equalling Ricky Ponting's tally of international centuries. He is now only behind Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time list. This was also Kohli's maiden ton in T20 Internationals, only the fourth Indian to achieve the feat of hitting a hundred in all three formats in international cricket.