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.

The mega clash between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 group stage will be played on 14 September. Looking at the tournament record, both teams have played 18 matches against each other. Out of these, India have won 10 while Pakistan have claimed 6 games. However, in the last 10 years, the rivalry has become one-sided, where Pakistan managed to win only once in seven showdowns.

So, before the much awaited clash begin, let's have a look at the batters with most runs in India vs Pakistan matches in Asia Cup in both ODI and T20I formats.

Also Read: Past results of India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup

Most Runs in India vs Pakistan Matches (ODI+T20I)

5. Mohammad Hafeez | 184 Runs

The former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez played three matches against India in Asia Cup and scored 184 runs at an average of 61.33 and a strike rate of 78.63. He smashed a fifty and a century each as well. 

Hafeez's highest score of 105 during Asia Cup 2012, stitched a record 224-run opening partnership with Nasir Jamshed. The opening stand is Pakistan’s highest against India eclipsing Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail’s opening stand of 144 in Singapore, back in 1996.

4. Younis Khan | 238 Runs

The former Pakistani skipper was an elegant batter with a prolific run-scoring record. He was known for his stylish stroke play and was a key performer for Pakistan against India. In 4 matches against India, Younis scored 228 runs at an average of 79.33 with a couple of half-centuries and a hundred.

His highest score of 123* came during 2008 Asia Cup, played at National Stadium in Karachi, helped Pakistan chased down the target of 309 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets in 45.3 overs. 

3. Shoaib Malik | 432 Runs

The former Pakistan all-rounder is one of the best cricketers the country has produced in the modern era. Shoaib Malik was Pakistan's crisis man as he bailed the team out of danger several times, be it with the bat or ball. While he was dangerous against every opponent, the lanky all-rounder was at his absolute best against India. 

Shoaib Malik is the only one Pakistani batsman who has scored 400+ runs against India in Asia Cup. He has scored 432 runs in 6 matches at an average of 86.30 and a strike rate of 93.70, including two centuries and one half-century. Malik's highest score of 143 came during the 2004 Asia Cup. He smashed 18 boundaries and one six during his 127-ball stay in the middle. His knock also helped the Men in Green secure a 59-run victory.

2. Rohit Sharma | 474 Runs

Joining his teammate Kohli on this list is the Indian opener, Rohit Sharma. Rohit has been a prolific scorer in limited-overs cricket, and in Asia Cup T20 matches, he has accumulated 474 runs in 12 matches against Pakistan at an average of 47.40 and a strike rate of 94.42. 

Rohit has also registered five half-centuries and one century against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. His highest score of 111* off 119 was registered during the 2018 Asia Cup edition in a game in Dubai. 

Also Read: Highest Run Scorer in Asia Cup History (ODI + T20)

1. Virat Kohli | 476 Runs

India's star batsman Virat Kohli is the top run-scorer against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. He has scored 476 runs in just 8 matches at an average of 68. This includes two centuries and one half century. Virat also scored a century against Pakistan in the previous match of the Asia Cup 2023. He had also led India to victory with an innings of 183 runs in 2012.

Highlighting his prowess, the most iconic of these innings is his memorable 183 in 2012, a record-setting performance that still stands as the highest individual score in the Asia Cup.

Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has produced some brilliant batting performances, each more devastating than the other. Some batters gradually become the face of the franchise. IPL teams also heavily depend on them to deliver consistent performances and do the bulk of run-scoring.

In this article, we will take a look at those batters with nost runs in an edition of IPL.

Also Read: Most valuable player in each season of IPL

Most runs in an edition of IPL

5. Sai Sudharsan (2025) | 759 Runs

Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudhaesan surpassed 750 runs in IPL 2025 to sign off with a tally of 759 from 15 matches at 54.21. He registered his 6th fifty of the season (100s: 1). He hit 88 fours and 21 sixes, striking at 156.17.

He also won the IPL 2025 Orange Cap award. This also makes Sai Sudharsan, 23 years and 237 days old when IPL 2025 ended, the youngest IPL Orange Cap history, surpassing the previous record held by GT captain Shubman Gill, who was 23 years and 263 days old when he won the award in IPL 2023.

4. David Warner (2016) | 848 Runs

David Warner’s explosive starts at the top are something SRH fans will never forget. Warner’s meteoric rise in the IPL began with his exploits in the 2016 season, when he guided the team to the final and helped them win their first IPL trophy. Warner scored nine half-centuries in the event, averaging more than 60. He had his greatest season with the bat, scoring 848 runs in 17 matches.

Despite scoring a staggering 848 runs, Warner finished as the second-highest run-scorer in 2016 as Kohli's 973 runs trumped him.

3. Jos Buttler (2022) | 863 Runs

Jos Buttler has been a consistent performer for Rajasthan Royals ever since he signed for the team before the Indian Premier League 2018 season.

In 2022, the Englishman went on a scoring spree, notching up four hundreds and as many fifties for his tally of 863 runs that won him the Orange Cap, awarded to the leading run-scorer in IPL each season. He averaged 57.53 from 17 matches that season scoring runs at a healthy strike rate of 149.05, taking the Royals to their first final after the inaugural edition in 2008.

2. Shubman Gill (2023) | 890 Runs

Gujarat Titans talisman took his batsmanship to astronomical heights in the 2023 edition of the IPL. Shubman Gill delivered consistent batting performances throughout the season to amass a staggering 890 runs in 17 matches at an impressive average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80. 

Apart from winning the coveted Orange Cap, Gill recorded the second-highest runs in a single IPL season, only behind Virat Kohli. Gill also smashed three centuries in IPL 2023, including a blazing 129 against the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 to register the highest individual score in an IPL Playoff game. 

Also Read: Most successful teams in T20 leagues around the world

1. Virat Kohli (2016) | 973 Runs

The 2016 IPL season saw Virat Kohli elevate his batting to a level never seen before. He amassed 973 runs in 16 matches, coming agonisingly close to becoming the first player to score 1,000 runs in a single IPL season. With an average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03.

Interestingly, no other batter has scored 900 or more runs in an IPL season. Kohli led RCB to the final that year as they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Cricket today is almost entirely a batsman's game. Flat pitches, small boundaries and bigger bats have tilted the game heavily in favor of the batsmen. The bowlers have got nowhere to hide and, the advent of T20s, where the batsmen go after them from the first ball itself have made it even more difficult.

The T20 format has brought about a revolution where the bowlers are more than grateful to keep the run rate down, rather than to take wickets. India made a wonderful foray into the shortest format of the game, winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. Over the years India is blessed to have got some big hitters in their line up who are capable of clearing any boundary in the world.

In this article we will take a look at those batters with most sixes for India in T20Is.

Most Sixes for India in T20Is

5. Hardik Pandya | 95

Hardik Pandya debuted in T20I cricket in 2016 and swiftly established himself as a key member of India's preferred playing eleven, serving as a seam-bowling all-rounder. His T20I career reached its peak in 2024, marked by outstanding all-round performances during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, helping India clinch the title. In terms of batting, Pandya has struck 95 sixes across 90 T20I innings.

Pandya has been included in the Men in Blue's 15-member squad for this year's Asia Cup. If Pandya manages to hit five more maximums in the Asia Cup, then he will go on to surpass KL Rahul's tally of 99 sixes in the shortest format. This will see the all-rounder become the Indian player with the fourth-most sixes in T20Is.

Also Read: Highest Wicket Taker in Asia Cup History (ODI + T20)

4. KL Rahul | 99

KL Rahul, who was once a consistent member of the T20I squad now finds himself out of favour in the T20I setup. Between 2016 and 2022, he played in 72 T20I matches and mostly batted in the top three.

He hit 99 sixes in 68 T20I innings. Following the T20 World Cup 2022, he was excluded from the shortest format due to his outdated approach to T20 cricket, as he did not improve his intent and strike rate.

3. Virat Kohli | 124

The Run Machine Virat Kohli has hit 124 sixes in 117 T20I innings for India. He is one of the most consistent players in the Indian team, with an average of 48.69. He made his T20I debut for India in 2010 and since then he has been a cornerstone of India's batting. Kohli also recorded 4,188 runs in T20I format, which included 38 fifties. 

“King Kohli” was part of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup in June 2024. After winning the trophy, Kohli announced his retirement from the format. 

2. Suryakumar Yadav | 146*

Yet another batsman who has made six-hitting look extremely easy is India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. Despite making his T20I debut in March 2021 with a match against England, the elegant middle-order batter has already launched 146 maximums in just 79 innings for Team India.

Having the ability to hit sixes at all parts of the ground with relative ease makes Yadav, a.k.a SKY, draw a comparison with South Africa’s great AB De Villiers who was called Mr. 360 in cricket. His centuries have also come against big teams like England, South Africa, and New Zealand apart from Sri Lanka. He has hit the most number of T20I sixes against West Indies (35).  

1. Rohit Sharma | 205

Former Indian T20I captain Rohit Sharma hit the most sixes for India in T20Is, having hit 205 sixes in 159 games he played. He made his debut for India in the 2007 T20 World Cup against South Africa. However, he failed to cement his place in the team. The turnaround came in the 2013 Champions Trophy when MS Dhoni promoted him up the order to open the batting with Shikhar Dhawan.

Also Read: Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

The mighty Australians have been Rohit's favourite opponent in this format against whom he has hit 29 sixes in 23 matches with Bangladesh being the second, conceding 22 sixes off his willow. Fondly called the “Hitman”, Rohit Sharma hung up his boots from T20Is after delivering the 2024 T20 World Cup title for India.   

The Indian team has given the country and the world many great batsmen, whose batting is admired by the whole world. Whether these players are playing at home or abroad, they have shown their batting prowess everywhere.

There have been a few who have made their nation proud with record appearances in all three formats for the Indian cricket side. While some have been able to represent India in a record number of matches, others have done a significant job in all three formats, time and time again. 

In this article, we will be discussing about most matches by an Indian in international cricket.

Also Read: Can You Guess the Indian with Most ICC Appearances?

Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

1. Sachin Tendulkar | 664

Sachin Tendulkar is the player who has played the most matches for the Indian team in international cricket. From 1989 to 2013, the Master Blaster has played a total of 664 matches in international cricket, in which he has scored 34537 runs at an impressive average of 48.52. He is the only batsman to score 100 centuries in international cricket.

Tendulkar featured in 200 Test matches, where he scored 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, while he had 51 centuries in the format. On the other hand, he made his ODI appearances in 463 games to score 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83, where he struck runs at a strike rate of 86.23. Also, he was also the first player in the format to score a double-century. Meanwhile, he also made a lone T20I appearance against South Africa in 2006.

2. Virat Kohli | 550

Virat Kohli is second in terms of playing the most number of international matches for India. Kohli, who began his international career in 2008, scored a total of 27599 runs at an average of 52.36 in 550 matches, in which 82 centuries have come from his bat. Kohli's highest score in international cricket has been 254* runs. 

Kohli has represented India in 123 Test matches, while he has made 302 and 125 appearances in ODI and T20Is. Kohli has dominated in all three formats, where ODI has been his forte with 14,180 runs at an average of 57.88, with his 51 centuries. On the other hand, he has 9,230 runs in Test cricket, while having 4,188 runs in the duration of his T20I career.

3. MS Dhoni | 535

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has retired after the 2019 World Cup from international cricket. Debuting in the year 2004, MS Dhoni went on to play 535 matches for India where he amassed a total of 17,092 runs while averaging 44.74 across formats. During this, 15 centuries have come from his bat. Under Dhoni's captaincy, the Indian team won the T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy and ODI World Cup titles.

The Indian wicketkeeper batter was the most reliable player in ODI cricket with 10,773 runs in 350 matches. While he made 90 Test appearances to score 4,876 runs, whereas he played 98 matches in the shortest format with 1,617 runs during his career.

4. Rahul Dravid | 504

Rahul Dravid has played cricket for the Indian team from 1996 to 2012. During this time, he featured in a total of 504 matches for the Men in Blue, while scoring a total of 24,064 runs at an average of 45.57. He scored 48 centuries in international cricket.

Dravid, also called as The Wall, was one of the most celebrated players of his time with 164 Test appearances powered by 344 ODI games, while he played a lone T20I match. In Test cricket, Dravid was a beast with 13,288 runs, whereas in one-day cricket, he was at his best with 10,889 runs. Dravid has also been the coach of Team India and under his coaching the Indian team won the T20 World Cup 2024 title.

Also Read: Most Test Centuries in Cricket History

5. Rohit Sharma | 499*

Rohit Sharma played his first international cricket match for the Indian team in 2007. He is just one game away from the record figure of 500 after featuring in 499 matches so far in his overall international career.

Now, Rohit has retired from T20I and Test cricket. He is currently playing in ODIs. In his combined career, Sharma has amassed 19,700 runs at an average of 42.18, while he has scored a total of 49 centuries in all forms of the game for India.

Additionally, Rohit led India to back-to-back two ICC trophies, the 2024 T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy 2025. He has five centuries in the T20I format for India. Moreover, with 11,168 runs in 273 ODIs, he is also one of the top-notch run-scorers.

Asia Cup 2025 will be held in UAE from 9 to 28 September. Due to T20 World Cup 2026, this time Asia Cup will also be organized in T20 format. India is being seen as the biggest contender in the Asia Cup this time.

Over the years, there have been many batters who have made a significant impact for their sides in the Asia Cup and are even featured in the list of highest run scorer in Asia Cup history. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Virat Kohli and many more are certified legends for their sides, and they fully deserve the status after their brilliant performances over the years.

With the Asia Cup 2025 right around the corner, let's have a look at the highest run scorer in Asia Cup history.

Also Read: Records T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav can break in Asia Cup 2025

Highest Run Scorer in Asia Cup History | ODI Format

1. Sanath Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka's great Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for most runs in the history of the Asia Cup in ODI format. He leads the table with 1220 runs in 25 matches, including 6 centuries and 3 fifties. Jayasuriya played from the 1990 edition till the 2018 edition and also has the most number of centuries (6) in Asia Cup history.

2. Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara is second on the list of most runs scored in the Asia Cup. He has been one of Sri Lanka's greatest batters and a consistent run-scorer. Sangakkara played in 5 editions from 2004 to 2014 and scored 1075 runs in 24 games, including 4 hundreds and 8 half-centuries. 

3. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar, the God of Cricket, is the third-highest run scorer in Asia Cup history. He played in Asia Cup from 1990 to 2012 and is India's highest run-getter in the Asia Cup. Sachin has scored 971 runs in 23 matches at an average of 51.10, with 2 centuries and 7 fifties.  

4. Rohit Sharma

India's current ODI captain Rohit Sharma is the Asia Cup's most runs scorer among all the active players. He played from 2008 to 2023 and scored 939 runs in 28 matches, averaging 46.95. He helped India win the Asia Cup in 2018 and 2023 and remains one of the most successful captains in the history of the nation.

5. Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim is the only Bangladesh player in the top 10 batters with the most runs in Asia Cup history. He has played in all the Asia Cups from 2008 to 2023 and scored 830 runs in 25 matches at an impressive average of 36.08 and a strike rate of 83.08. His highest score of 144 was against Sri Lanka in 2018. 

Also Read: Asia Cup 2025 date announced; BCCI yet to confirm participation against Pakistan

Highest Run Scorer in Asia Cup History | T20 Format

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is at the top of the list of players with the most runs in Asia Cup T20 history. He played 10 matches (9 innings) and scored 429 runs at an impressive average of 85.8 and a strike rate of 132, with three fifties and a century to his name. Kohli has retired from T20Is now and will not feature in the upcoming Asia Cup.

2. Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan is the next in this list and has scored 281 runs so far in six matches in the T20 format of the Asia Cup. He has scored runs at an average of 56.2 and a strike rate of 117.57 with three fifties to his name. Rizwan is not a part of Pakistan's T20I squad and it remains to be seen if he gets picked for the Asia Cup.

3. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, like Virat Kohli, has also retired from the shortest format of the game. However, he is third in the list of players with the most runs in the Asia Cup T20. He scored 271 runs in nine innings at an average of 30.11 and a strike rate of 141.14 with two fifties to his credit.

4. Babar Hayat

Babar Hayat of Hong Kong is one of the surprise entries in this list. He has played five matches so far and scored 235 runs in the Asia Cup T20 at an average of 47 and is one of the only two centurions in the tournament. His best score of 122 is also the joint-highest individual score in the Asia Cup.

5. Ibrahim Zadran

Ibrahim Zadran of Afghanistan has also made it to this list. He mustered 196 runs in just five matches at an average of 65.33 and a strike rate of 104.25 with a half-century to his name. Zadran has a chance to climb up the list in the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup.