From his Under-19 World Cup triumph to lifting India’s second World Cup in 2011, from marking his spot against Sri Lanka in 2008 to scoring at an average of 151 against Windies this year, Virat Kohli has been unarguably the most consistent batsman of the modern times. The fastest to 10,000 ODI runs, averaging 50+ in all the three formats, he has turned out to be a force to reckon with.
As Chikoo turns 30, we look back at some of his prime limited overs performances that rose the man to the fame.
5. The fifth one on the list is from the 2013 World Cup final. Many would oversee the crucial 35 that Virat made that day, for Gambhir was the real star of the night. With both Sachin and Sehwag back in the hut, a partnership was needed, and Kohli provided just that. The Delhi duo took India from 31/2 to 113 before Kohli stroked one to the palms of Dilshan. It was an important knock as it gave India more than a hope at clinching the World Cup, going into the second half of the innings.
4. Chasing a huge target 330 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup encounter, Kohli raised to the occasion with yet another classic performance. In that match, he scored 183 runs in just 148 balls and is still to date his highest score.
3. Another knock from another World Cup(2015). Kohli was facing the arch-rivals Pakistan only this time in a World Cup setting. As India was yet to beat by the neighbours in a World Cup encounter, the pressure to perform was unmatchably high. Kohli scored a breathtaking 107 from 126 balls, India posted a target of 301 and won the game by 76 runs.
2. The chase against Sri Lanka is touted by many as the most impressive inning by Kohli. In India’s last game of the Commonwealth Bank Series of 2012, they needed to chase down the target of 321 within 40 overs to have any shot at a place in the finals. With sheer brilliance, Kohli, along with cameos by Gambhir and Raina chased down the target in just 36.4 overs. In 35st over, Kohli smashed Sri Lanka’s prime bowler, Lasith Malinga. He humiliated him by scoring 24 runs off that over.
1. In 2016 World T20(A virtual Quarter Final), Australia set a target of 161 in 20 overs. With India needing 39 in the last three overs, the chances of a semi-final spot started to look grim. Enters Kohli’s prowess-ness, he bludgeoned the fierce Aussie attack left, right and centre. In the 18th over Kohli scored 19 runs and cut short the required runs to 20. Then came Nathan Coulter-Nile, who was hit for four boundaries. Needing a mere 4 of 6, Dhoni finished the game in his own style.
