Virat Kohli Birthday: Top 5 Kohli knocks in ODIs

#1 133 vs Sri Lanka (CB Series, Hobart) – 2012

Kohli paced the run chase to perfection.

India were going through a tough phase in 2011-12. After losing the Test series 4-0 in Australia, India faced a must-win game against Sri Lanka in their final group stage match. Moreover, they needed a bonus point win (to stay ahead of Sri Lanka on points).

Sri Lanka would have felt they had one foot in the final, having left the India bowlers deflated after a dominating performance with the bat as they posted 320/4. But Kohli had other ideas.

Needing to overhaul the target in 40 overs, India got off to a flying start but lost both openers (Sehwag and Sachin) inside 10 overs. With the score reading 86/2, Kohli walked into bat and things changed dramatically.

Right from the word go, he dominated the bowling. In his 133-minute stay at the crease, Kohli hit 16 fours and 2 sixes en route to a belligerent 133. The way he took the attack to Malinga, nobody has ever seen a batsman dictate terms against Lasith Malinga like the way he did in that match (which included a 24-run over).

This unbeaten 133 was probably the best knock he has ever played as he displayed a wide array of shots and toyed around with Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.