1. Hurricane in Hobart (133* vs Sri Lanka, 2012)
Despite having scored eight centuries leading up to this contest against Sri Lanka, it was in Hobart during the 2012 CB series that Kohli really came of age. With India in the middle of a sloppy campaign having being blanked in the Test series 0-4 and enduring not the greatest of tri-series, Kohli played the innings of a lifetime. Kohli dished out a memorable assault en route to scoring an unbeaten 133 off just 86 balls to help India gun down 321 runs in less than 37 overs. His treatment of Lasith Malinga was the stuff of legends. He took the yorker specialist for 24 runs in an over in perhaps the most dominating batting performance seen against him.
2. Asia Cup classic (183 vs Pakistan, 2012, Dhaka)
Rarely do things get bigger than an India-Pakistan match. Just months after Kohli had ripped the skin off Sri Lanka, the batsman, playing his second Asia Cup tournament, rose to the big occasion and peeled off a match-winning century. With Pakistan posting 329/6 and India losing opening batsman Gautam Gambhir without a run on board, in walked Kohli and took some time before he punished a rather decent Pakistan bowling attack. Kohli hit 22 fours and a six to score a career-best 183, grabbing the bowlers by the scruff of their neck and seeing India through inside 48 overs. He was ably supported by half-centuries from Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma.
3. Mohali epic (82* vs Australia, 2016 World T20)
2016 was one of Kohli’s best years in international cricket, and with the World T20 World Cup being played in India, the batsman’s eyes lit up. He emerged as the Man of the Series in the tournament but his innings against Australia during a Super 10 match stood out.
4. Burying the ghosts of England (149 vs England, Birmingham, 2018)
5. Achieving batting nirvana in Adelaide (115 and 141 vs Australia, 2014)
Kohli, in his first Test as captain, nearly saw India home had it not been for one of India’s famous collapses. In the absence of Dhoni, who was nursing a finger injury, Kohli scored twin centuries in Adelaide, his knock of 115 in the first innings leading India’s strong reply of 444 to Australia’s 517/7 declared. In the second innings, Australia declared on 290/5, setting India 362 runs to get. Kohli anchored another fighting knock of 141, and along with Murali Vijay, took India to 242/2, a stage where they looked likely to grab an early 1-0 lead. But off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed 7/152 and in the process, triggered one of India’s worst batting collapses, which saw them lose eight wickets for 73 runs to be bowled out for 315.
0 Comments