A look back at Virat Kohli's top 10 knocks after India skipper's monumental Pune double-ton

Adithya Sundar 18:04 13/10/2019
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  • Scored 25 fours in his innings of 243: Virat Kohli

    Virat Kohli found his midas touch in Tests after going ten innings without a century as he notched his highest ever score in the format against South Africa in Pune.

    It was another gem of an innings from the Indian captain and it adds to an ever-growing collection of stellar knocks. But how does it compare to the other superb displays in his career, though?

    We examine 10 of his best knocks, in no particular order, across all formats.

    133* versus Sri Lanka at Hobart (2012)

    Kohli exults after the win in 2013. Image Credit - ICC/Twiiter

    Kohli exults after the win in 2013. Image Credit – ICC/Twitter

    This was the knock that marked Virat Kohli’s arrival into the big time. India had to chase down an improbable 321-run target in under 40 overs to qualify for the tri-series final and the hopes were quickly fading. In the end, the Men in Blue completed the job with four overs to spare after a sensational 86-run knock from Kohli.

    While even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar got his first one-day hundred in Australia in only in his fourth tour, Kohli did so on his maiden visit. One of the highlights of the knock was the manner in which Kohli dismantled Lasith Malinga in that game, scoring 31 runs off the final eight deliveries from the pacer.

    153* versus South Africa (2018)

    With this super innings, Virat Kohli became the only the second Indian captain to score a Test ton in South Africa. He stood tall while the rest of the Indian batting crumbled against the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel at Centurion in the first innings.  The India skipper copped multiple blows to his body on a bouncy and pacy Centurion pitch but flinch he did not in a stellar unbeaten knock of 153. Unfortunately for Kohli, India were unable to capitalise on his innings and fell to a 135-run loss.

    82* versus Australia at Mohali (2016)

    This will probably be rated as one of the best ever T20I innings. Facing a steep run-chase of 161 against the Australia, India were staring at a defeat after being reduced to 49- 3 towards the end of the eighth over. Up stepped Kohli and he started by sharing a 67-run partnership with MS Dhoni in which the keeper-batsman’s contribution was just 18.

    Still, India needed 47 off the final 24 deliveries to win and the game looked to be slipping away. Ultimately, the hosts got there with five deliveries to spare as Kohli plundered 19 runs off an over from James Faulkner and 16 from the subsequent one from Nathan Coulter-Nile.

    149 versus England at Birmingham (2018)

    After a dismal 2014 series in England where he failed spectacularly against James Anderson, Virat Kohli silenced his critics with a spanking century in tough conditions. He scored more runs in this innings than he had in the entire 2014 tour of England (134 runs in 10 innings). With a vociferous Barmy Army in the background and a pacy England attack in front of him, he carried the team with a fighting ton.

    He batted expertly with the tail, shielding the likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma and managing to add 105 runs to the total for the final three wickets. This was his 22nd Test ton and his first in England.

    183 versus Pakistan at Dhaka (2012)

    Virat Kohli slammed 183 in the 2012 Asia Cup clash against Pakistan.

    Virat Kohli slammed 183 in the 2012 Asia Cup clash against Pakistan.

    This knock was yet another chasing masterclass from the India superstar. After Pakistan openers Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed scored centuries to set up a stiff target of 329, Virat Kohli tore into their bowling attack with a rapid knock.

    Striking at 123.64, he came tantalisingly close to becoming the first ever player to score a double-ton in an ODI while chasing. The opposition captain Misbah ul Haq was full of praise for Kohli’s knock and called it the best innings he had ever seen in person.

    116 versus Australia at Adelaide (2012)

    India lost the series 4-0 and in that whitewash, the lone bright spark was India’s future star Virat Kohli announcing his arrival Down Under with his maiden ton. He walked in when India was tottering at 111-5 and powered through hostile bowling and sledging from the dominant Aussies to reach three figures for the first time in his Test career. It was a sign of things to come as he returned in 2014 to smash four centuries in Australia.

    89* versus Windies at Mumbai (2016)

    This was an innings worthy of a World Cup semi-final. After Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan provided a good start, Kohli propelled India to a huge total of 192. He smacked 11 boundaries and one six in his 47-ball blitz while his running between the wickets was a sight to behold. He toyed with the Windies attack at times and it was a pity that the knock wasn’t enough for India to secure a win. He even picked up a rare wicket with the ball when West Indies batted.

    100* versus Australia at Jaipur (2013)

    India had never chased 300 successfully against Australia before this game. They ended up chasing down 359 in 44 overs at Jaipur thanks to centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Kohli registered the fastest ODI century by an Indian, in 52 balls, tonking seven sixes in his emphatic knock. This was also the 2nd highest successful chase in ODI history.

    Kohli celebrates his quickest ever ODI ton. Image Credit - BCCI/Twitter

    Kohli celebrates his quickest ever ODI ton (Image Credit – BCCI/Twitter)

    235* versus England at Mumbai (2016)

    It was the third double-ton of the year for the Indian captain. He pulverised the England bowling attack to the ground and helped India amass a total of 631 runs. On a rank turner of a pitch, while having to bat on the third and fourth days after the opposition had put up a formidable total of 400, Kohli played a marathon knock to steal victory for India when it seemed that the only possible outcome was a draw.

    122 vs England at Pune (2017)

    His knock at Pune alongside Kedhar Jadhav was one of the finest fightbacks by the Indian team in recent times. Chasing 350, India were reeling at 63-4 at one stage. This was a knock of two halves though. Kohli played second fiddle to Kedhar Jadhav initially and once the all-rounder departed for a well crafted century, he stepped up his own scoring rate.

    This was his 27th ODI hundred and yet another effort that saw him grab the game by the scruff of the neck and pull India to victory in a difficult run chase.

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