Virat Kohli Completes 18 Years In International Cricket [Source: AFP]Modern-day legend Virat Kohli completed 18 years in international cricket on August 18, 2026. He entered the cricketing arena back in 2008 as a teenager and has only raised the bar year after year. Today, 18 years later, Kohli is a legend who redefined modern-day Indian cricket with his batting and leadership. On this special occasion, let’s revisit Kohli’s best knocks from each of the 18 years and what made them special.1. 2008- 54 vs Sri LankaVirat Kohli began his journey in international cricket with 12 on debut against Sri Lanka. He didn't have to wait long for his first significant contribution, scoring 54 later in the same series. It was the first glimpse of the batter India would eventually build its batting around.2. 2009- 107 vs Sri LankaA year into his international cricket journey, Virat Kohli managed to hit his maiden century against Sri Lanka. He hit 107 off 114 balls at Eden Gardens to announce his arrival.3. 2010- 118 vs AustraliaBy 2010, Virat Kohli had established himself as a permanent member of India’s ODI setup. In the home series against Australia, Kohli scored 118 in Visakhapatnam to mark his highest score of the year. His yearly ODI statistics show 995 runs and three centuries in 2010. 4. 2011- 117 vs West IndiesIn 2011, Virat Kohli continued to slam centuries in a spree. Against the West Indies, he hit his highest score of the calendar year, 117, once again at Visakhapatnam. The year 2011 was also special because Kohli accumulated 1381 ODI runs, thus surpassing the 1000-run mark for the first time.Also Read - International Cricketers Who Have Fought With Fans Inside The Stadium5. 2012- 183 vs PakistanThe highest ODI score of Virat Kohli’s ODI career came in 2012. Against arch-rivals Pakistan, Kohli slammed 183 runs off 148 balls to help India win by 6 wickets in the Asia Cup. It remains one of the defining innings of his early career as a chase master.6. 2013- 119 vs South AfricaIn his very first visit to South Africa, Virat Kohli fought the likes of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel to produce a technically mature performance. He first hit 119 runs to save India and later followed it up with 96 in the second innings. The ICC has also highlighted the match among his defining Test performances. 7. 2014- 141 vs AustraliaVirat Kohli’s love affair with Adelaide had begun in 2012 when he hit his maiden Test century at that ground. But in 2014, he produced something special. Despite a hundred in the first innings, Australia set India 364 to win, and Kohli attacked the target rather than settling for a draw. His 141 came at a strike rate above 80, taking India to within 60 runs of an extraordinary victory.8. 2015- 147 vs AustraliaThe 2014/15 Border Gavaskar Trophy was one of the peak moments of Virat Kohli’s Test career. In the SCG Test held in January 2015, he scored 147, marking his fourth century of that tour. The match was drawn, but Kohli finished as the second-highest run-scorer of that series with 692 runs in 8 innings.9. 2016- 82* vs AustraliaFor impact, this might be the winner of the entire list. India needed to beat Australia to reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals. Virat Kohli produced 82* off 51 balls, taking India home in a tense chase. In fact, Kohli himself regarded this as his best T20 innings. 10. 2017- 243 vs Sri LankaIn the third Test against Sri Lanka held at Delhi, homeboy Virat Kohli hammered a record double century. In the first innings, he hit 243 off 287 balls to help India post a mammoth total of 536 runs. That innings was a part of an extraordinary year in which he scored 1059 Test runs and five centuries.11. 2018- 149 vs EnglandAfter averaging only 13.50 in England in 2014, Virat Kohli returned four years later for redemption and battled through a superb England attack to score 149 at Edgbaston. He later described it as his second-best Test innings, behind Adelaide 2014. 12. 2019- 254* vs South AfricaIn 2019, India hosted South Africa for an important Test series. In the Pune Test, Virat Kohli showed his brilliance as he converted his calm century into a massive unbeaten double hundred. The 254* off 336 balls remain Kohli’s highest Test score.13. 2020- 89 vs AustraliaWith only limited international cricket because of the pandemic, Virat Kohli didn't have the same volume of opportunities. His 89 against Australia in the 3rd ODI of the home series was his highest ODI score of the year. 14. 2021- 80 vs EnglandVirat Kohli's 80* in the T20I series against England was his highest international score of the year. It was a useful reminder of his ability to control a T20 innings without necessarily needing a fifty-plus strike-rate explosion.15. 2022- 82* vs PakistanThis is arguably the most iconic Virat Kohli innings of the post-2019 period. India were in serious trouble chasing 160 against Pakistan at the MCG before Kohli produced an extraordinary unbeaten 82 off 53 balls. India won off the final ball, with Kohli's innings becoming one of the defining moments of the 2022 T20 World Cup.16. 2023- 166* vs Sri LankaThe year 2023 was an exceptional season for Virat Kohli as he hammered 1377 ODI runs with 6 centuries. His highest score of the year was 166* against Sri Lanka in the third ODI held at Thiruvananthapuram.17. 2024- 76 vs South AfricaThe 76 in the T20 World Cup final gets the nod because of the occasion rather than the raw numbers. India were under enormous pressure in the final against South Africa, and Kohli anchored the innings before accelerating late. His contribution helped India post a competitive total and eventually win their first men's T20 World Cup since 2007.18. 2025- 100* vs PakistanVirat Kohli's 100* against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy is the obvious pick. He reached three figures unbeaten in a high-profile rivalry match and continued his remarkable record against Pakistan. His international century list records the knock as his 51st international hundred.Also Read - Rishabh Pant Becomes 1st Indian To Hit 100 Test Sixes, Tops Elite List
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