Virat Kohli’s 5 best ODI innings

Virat Kohli against South Africa in ODI World Cup 2023 (Source: AFP)

The veteran India batter, Virat Kohli, has established himself as one of the all-time greats in the ODIs, with his performances and knack for winning the crucial matches for India over the last couple of years. He has also broken a few notable records in the name of former India legend Sachin Tendulkar. 

The list of these records includes the milestones like ‘most centuries in ODIs’ and ‘most runs in successful run chases’. It all has been possible courtesy of Kohli’s memorable knocks in his ODI career of more than 17 years. Given that, here’s a look at Virat Kohli’s five best innings in ODIs that left a remarkable impact.

Virat Kohli's five best innings in ODIs

133* against Sri Lanka - Hobart 2012

The 11th game of the Commonwealth Bank Series between Sri Lanka and India was a virtual knockout for India, keeping it alive in the race for the final. The then-India skipper MS Dhoni won the flip of the coin and asked Sri Lanka to bat first. 

The Islanders posted a big total of 320 runs for the loss of four wickets in the allotted 50 overs, courtesy of Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 160 and Kumar Sangakkara’s 105 runs. 

Furthermore, India had to chase this target within 40 overs to keep their hopes alive for the Tri-Series final. India lost the first two wickets at the score of 86 runs in 9.2 overs. Then came a much-needed partnership of 115 runs for the third wicket between Gautam Gambhir (63) and Virat Kohli for the third wicket. 

Kohli continued to smash Sri Lanka’s bowling attack and ended up scoring 133 runs off just 86 balls, with 16 fours and two sixes. Besides this, he also made a blistering partnership of 120 runs off just 55 balls with Suresh Raina (24-ball 40). Virat Kohli’s century took India home in just 36.4 overs, scoring 321 runs for the loss of just three wickets and winning the game by seven wickets. 

183 against Pakistan - Mirpur 2012

The arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, were facing off in the fifth game of the Asia Cup 2012. The then-Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and decided to bat first. Pakistan scored 329 runs for the loss of six wickets courtesy of Mohammad Hafeez's (105) and Nasir Jamshed’s (112) centuries. 

While chasing the target, India faced a big blow, losing opener Gautam Gambhir on the second ball of the innings, even before the team could get off the mark. Sustaining this blow, the pair of Sachin Tendulkar (52) and Virat Kohli stitched a stabilizing partnership of 133 runs for the second wicket. 

Kohli had almost finished his job by the time Umar Gul dismissed him. The then-young batter smashed 183 runs off just 148 balls, with 22 fours and a six, taking India closer to the target. He also won the ‘Player of the Match’ award after India won the game by six wickets.

100 against Australia - Jaipur 2013

After losing the first ODI of the seven-match series against Australia, India hosted them in the second ODI at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The visitors posted a mammoth total of 359 runs for the loss of five wickets, as they batted first after winning the toss. 

While chasing the target, India’s top three brutally dominated the Aussie bowling attack. The opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan stitched an opening partnership of 176 runs before Virat Kohli came into the middle to finish the job. 

After Dhawan’s (95) departure, Rohit and Kohli added an unbeaten partnership of 186 runs for the third wicket to win the game for India by a massive margin of nine wickets. 

Apart from Rohit’s 141-run knock, what attracted the eyeballs was Kohli’s 52-ball century, which made him the Indian batter to score the fastest ODI century. He ended up scoring 100 runs off just 52 balls, with eight fours and seven sixes. 

160* against South Africa - Cape Town 2018

After registering two consecutive wins in the first two ODIs of the six-match ODI series against South Africa, India faced the Proteas in the third ODI at the Newlands in Cape Town. The hosts’ skipper, Aiden Markram, won the toss and asked Virat Kohli’s men to bat first. 

After losing opener Rohit Sharma in the first over, without the team getting off the mark, Virat Kohli came into the middle to accompany Shikhar Dhawan. The Kohli-Dhawan duo added much-needed 140 runs for the second wicket to keep India in the game. After Dhawan (76) was dismissed, skipper Kohli took the responsibility of the innings. 

He went on to smash an unbeaten knock of 160 runs off 159 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes, to help his side post 303 runs for the loss of six wickets. Furthermore, the Indian bowlers wrapped up the Proteas at the score of 179 runs to win the game by a massive margin of 124 runs. Skipper Kohli won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his game-defining knock. 

101* against South Africa - Kolkata, ODI World Cup 2023

It was another match-winning knock by Virat Kohli against South Africa in a pressure situation. India was taking on the Proteas in the 37th ODI of the 2023 ODI World Cup. This century also holds a special place among Kohli’s ODI centuries, as it came on his birthday, November 5, 2023. 

India won the toss and decided to bat first at the challenging turf of the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Batting first, India had a quick opening start of 62 runs in just 5.5 overs before skipper Rohit Sharma (24-ball 40).

Following his dismissal, the Indian innings revolved around Virat Kohli, who held one end firmly in the anchor role. He scored an unbeaten 101 runs off 121 balls, with 10 fours. 

Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century also becomes significant given the South Africa was bundled out at just 83 runs in 27.1 overs. Eventually, India won the game by 243 runs, and Kohli got the ‘Player of the Match’ award.