The best of Virat Kohli - top 5 innings in ODI cricket so far

4. 118 vs Australia (2nd ODI, Visakhapatnam, October 20, 2010)

Kohli’s hundred helped India chase 290 against Australia

Chasing a formidable total under lights is never easy. After MS Dhoni won the toss and sent the Australians in to bat, Nehra’s double strike put them on the back-foot. However, the Aussies recovered well to post 289, thanks to a magnificent century from skipper Michael Clarke, a steady half-century from Mike Hussey and a blazing cameo from Cameron White.

India started the chase on a shaky note, with debutant opener Shikhar Dhawan castled by Clint McKay for a duck. Murali Vijay followed soon after hitting three boundaries in his brief knock.

Watching his side reeling at 35/2 in the ninth over and the required run-rate mounting rapidly, Virat launched a counter-offensive against the Aussie bowlers – peppering both sides of the wicket with his stylish stroke-play.

He added 137 runs for the third wicket with Yuvraj Singh before the latter was dismissed in the 34th over. Battling cramps and with India still 118 runs short, Kohli accelerated hard in the company of the adventurous Suresh Raina.

He brought up his century with a crisp square-drive, then swung McKay for two fours and a massive six over long-on. The cramps got the better of the limping youngster as he fell with India 34 runs behind, but ended up on the winning side nonetheless.

His innings was marked by his calm approach and good cricketing sense. Brilliant knock!