Virat Kohli is arguably the best limited-overs batsman currently, especially in the ODI format. With 43 ODI centuries to his name, Virat Kohli is only second in the list of most ODI centuries in International cricket. And possibly, the Indian skipper might go past Sachin Tendulkar, who leads the charts with 49 centuries in the ODI format.
Virat Kohli averages an astonishing 59.3 in ODIs in 248 matches for India. His consistency in the ODI format and the ability to perform under pressure situations is one of his greatest hallmarks in being a modern ODI great. Kohli is closing in on 12k runs (11867) in the white-ball cricket, which is the 7th most in history of cricket.
Out of 43 ODI centuries, 26 have come while chasing in the second innings. Only seven of Kohli's centuries have come on occasions when India have lost a game. His knack of chasing runs with ease sees him as potentially one of the greatest players of all-time.
As Virat Kohli completes his 12 years in international cricket after making his debut in 2008, we take a look at some of his best ODI knocks played in the last twelve years.
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1. 133* vs Sri Lanka at Hobart, Tri-Series 2012
Before this innings at Hobart, Virat had already scored ten centuries in ODI cricket and was an established member in the Indian ODI setup. But his knock of 133* against Sri Lanka at Hobart made the world take notice of this young sensation who would go onto probably rule the world for the next two decades. Though his match-winning knock wasn't enough to take India to the CB series final, it ushered a new chapter in the cricketing career of Kohli.
Watch Virat Kohli's majestic century innings
One of the highlights of Kohli's innings was the ease with which he smashed Lasith Malinga to all parts of the ground. While chasing 323 to win, Virat scored 16 boundaries and two sixes in just 86 deliveries to take India over the line in only 36.4 overs. This knock, in many ways, was Kohli's first of the many ODI run-chases that followed.
2. 183 vs Pakistan in Dhaka, Asia Cup 2012
Within three weeks after producing a gem of a knock at Hobart, Kohli was at his usual best against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup at Mirpur in Dhaka. Walking in at No.3, Kohli racked up 183 runs to set up an easy India win against the ‘Men in Green'. Chasing a mammoth 330, India secured their then highest-ever ODI run-chase with two overs to spare.
This wouldn't have been possible if not for Kohli's outstanding knock. Having lost a wicket in the very first over, Kohli took charge and demolished the Pakistan bowling attack. His knock of 183 from just 148 balls included 22 fours and a solitary six. Even today, it happens to remain Kohli's highest ODI individual score for India.
3. 160* vs South Africa at Capetown, 2018
Virat Kohli scored one of his better ODI hundreds while batting first in the 3rd ODI game at Capetown vs South Africa in 2018. This was his 13th century while setting a target and 34th overall. What really stood out in this innings was that he scored an exactly hundred of those running by running 1's,2's and 3's, while scoring only 12 fours and two sixes.
He vowed the world with fitness skills that game and India won the match comfortably by 124 runs while defending 303. He had outstanding series scoring 558 runs in just six innings at an average of 186 with three ODI hundreds to his name. India won the 6-match series 5-1.
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4. 100* vs Australia at Jaipur, 2013
Virat Kohli smashed the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian batsman against Australia in 2013. He went past Virender Sehwag's record who scored a century in 60 balls against New Zealand in 2009. Virat's unbeaten innings of 100 in just 52 deliveries included eight fours and seven sixes and paved the way for another memorable win for India while chasing 360 runs.
India chased down 359 runs within 43.3 overs making it India's highest-ever ODI chase. It was another landmark innings in Kohli's ODI career who exhibited his explosive skills scoring with a strike rate of 192.
5. 122 vs England at Pune, 2017
In his first series as a full-time ODI captain of the Indian team, Kohli scored a spectacular century under difficult circumstances. Chasing 351 and having lost 4 wickets for a paltry score of 63, Virat rose to the occasion with Kedar Jadhav and stitched a match-winning 200-run partnership.
Although he was not the player of the match, his innings of 122 from 105 balls was one of his better ODI innings as a captain. This was his 27th ODI century and 5th while leading the team.
