Virat Kohli: Top 5 ODI knocks

Virat Kohli scored his 8th ODI century at Vizag in the recently concluded 2nd ODI between India and West Indies. 5 of those 8 ODI hundreds have now come in the 2nd innings, all leading to successful run-chases. 2 of them have been in the first innings for a winning cause and only a single century, in the first innings in England recently, ended up for a losing side in a rain curtailed match. Also, 8 of his 17 half centuries have been match winning efforts while chasing the target. Let us take a look at his match winning performances in the 2nd innings.

Runs Scored	Strike Rate	Batting Position	Opposition	Venue	Target Chased
118	97.52	3	Australia	Vishakhapatnam	290
117	95.12	4	West Indies	Vishakhapatnam	270
112*	114.28	4	England	Delhi	238
107	93.85	4	Sri Lanka	Kolkata	316
102*	107.36	3	Bangladesh	Dhaka	248
91	89.21	3	Bangladesh	Dhaka	297
86*	86.86	4	England	Mumbai	221
82	89.13	3	Sri Lanka	Bulawayo	243
81	78.64	3	West Indies	Port of Spain	183 (37 overs)
79*	75.96	4	West Indies	Johannesburg	130
71*	104.41	3	Sri Lanka	Dhaka	214
64	87.67	3	New Zealand	Jaipur	259
63*	90.00	3	New Zealand	Vadodara	225

Since Kohli’s ODI debut 3 years back, India has successfully chased down 250 plus scores ten times, half of them involving Kohli’s match winning knocks. Virat Kohli’s phenomenal success in chasing targets reflects in his 2nd innings average of 56.77 compared to his career average of 46.38. His strike rate of about 84 is also brilliant and a further proof of his success. Partnerships are the cornerstone of any big run chase and rotating the strike is essential for the flourish of a partnership in the early stages at least. This has been the modus operandi for Kohli and the rest of the young brigade. Here is a look at Kohli’s partnerships in the 2nd innings for a winning cause.

Batting Partner	Innings	Not Out	Runs	Highest Partnership	Average	100	50
Gautam Gambhir	12	2	1006	224	100.60	4	2
Rohit Sharma	3	0	369	163	123.00	2	1
MS Dhoni	5	1	307	152	76.75	1	1
Suresh Raina	6	1	321	131	64.20	1	1
Yuvraj Singh	6	1	287	137	57.40	1	1

His partnership with Gautam Gambhir has been the most successful, and somehow it’s not much of a surprise since both batsmen have similar techniques and make an ideal combination for ODI chases. Both batsmen are fluent stroke makers and rely mostly on nudging the ball in gaps for scoring opportunities and are quick between the wickets. Also, the boundaries are caressed with ease rather than the usual bludgeoning of Raina or Dhoni. These two have been instrumental in many memorable chases in the past including the world cup final where they added 83 runs in 15.3 overs for the 3rd wicket after India were left reeling at 31/2 chasing 275.

These are the 5 best ODI innings that stand out in my view as the best that he has played so far.

1. 107 vs Sri Lanka in Kolkata, 2009

The first ODI ton.

His maiden ODI century, this was made in the cauldron of Eden Gardens, chasing a stiff target of 316. India were, not for the first time in the coming years while chasing large totals, reduced to 23/2 with Sehwag and Sachin falling early in the innings. When Kohli departed at the start of the 40th over, India were just 69 runs away from reaching the winning total. He had added 224 runs with Gambhir in 35.4 overs at a run rate of 6.28. It was only the 2nd instant in ODIs when, in a successful chase of a score in excess of 300, a 200 plus partnership took place. Kohli’s innings was marked by elegant flicks on the leg side and firm punches off the back foot. In this 224 run partnership, the duo of Kohli and Gambhir ran 125, underscoring the importance that they put on running between the wickets. This was the start of a budding partnership that still calms the nerves whenever these two are at the crease.

2. 118 vs Australia in Vishakhapatnam, 2010

A hundred against a relatively new Aussie attack.

This was a series where both the teams were missing their senior pros. Australia had posted 289 on the board with the help of a century from Michael Clarke and Cameron White’s whirlwind 89 off 69 deliveries. Yuvraj Singh joined Kohli at the crease in the 9th over with the Indian scorecard reading just 35 with the makeshift openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay back in the hut. The asking rate was more than 6 runs per over and Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh added 137 runs for the 3rd wicket at 5.4 runs per over. When Yuvraj fell, Kohli added 84 runs with Suresh Raina in just 9.4 overs at 8.68 and also reached his 4th ODI hundred in the process. His 118 included 11 fours and a handsome six over long on. He scored in all parts of the ground with 54 coming on the off-side and 64 on the leg-side. He struggled with cramps in the 70s and 80s but still hung in there to take the team closer to the target. This innings, although against a relatively new attack, was another gem in his building repertoire of match winning knocks.

3. 117 vs West Indies in Vishakhapatnam, 2011

8th ODI hundred, 5th in a successful chase

Riding on an unbelievable 86 not out from their number 10 Ravi Rampaul, West Indies posted a very competitive 269 after being reduced to 170-9 at one stage. The West Indians believed now, they had the momentum and when Gambhir fell to a shocker of a catch from Adrian Barath in the covers, India needed a soothing balm, another calm innings, another big innings. Kohli provided that yet again. Sehwag fell after an edgy innings with the score reading only 84.Kohli was joined by another young batsman who was making a comeback after an injury lay off. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli went about the business in the most methodical way possible. They collected runs by nudging the balls in the gaps and not forcing them over the fielders. Darren Sammy, the opposition captain can be again criticized for letting the pressure off the Indian batsmen but it was Kohli and Sharma’s beautiful batting that led India to a successful chase yet again. Kohli completed his 8th hundred in ODIs and struck 14 beautiful fours in the process. It was one partnership that reflected a wonderful future for the Indian team, presenting glimpses of, one might say, Dravid and Tendulkar in the 90s.

4. 82 vs Sri Lanka in Bulawayo, 2010

Flashy strokes, but only few

One of the less flashy innings from Kohli, he was the perfect foil for Rohit Sharma who took more risks and scored a century to overcome a dodged Sri Lanka. This was after a shock defeat to Zimbabwe in the previous match and Kohli and Sharma made sure that there were no hiccups this time around with a level headed partnership. Kohli hit just 4 boundaries in this innings and collected most runs with quick singles and doubles that have been the hallmark of his stay at the crease more often than not. He used the width of the crease very well, going either fully back or leaning forward, to tackle the different lengths. Later, he unfurled the big shots; an inside-out hit, a pulled boundary and a supple on-drive. This was yet another eye catching display of matured batting when it came to the youngsters Kohli and Sharma.

5. 35 vs Sri Lanka in Mumbai, 2011

An assured hand

By no means a match winning knock or even a high scoring one, but when Sachin left the field edging a Malinga outswinger to Sangakkara, the nation stood shocked. Nobody saw Virat Kohli moving on to the crease and taking guard. They were all either staring at each other in disbelief and shock or just went on to do something else for an ideal dream had just been broken, that of Sachin scoring his 100th international 100 in the World Cup final in front of the home crowd. India were chasing 275 and were now 31/2 courtesy Malinga’s double blow. The target looked farther than ever. In the 90s, this could very well have been the end of the match for India. But the last couple of years of pressure situations had moulded this new generation of batsmen to believe in themselves even as the country slowly came to accept the reality of the night. Kohli missed a few pacy deliveries from Malinga and ducked a few early on. It was a time when belief needed to resurface in the audience. Kohli and Gambhir made sure they instilled that sense to some extent. The partnership of 83 between them brought India out of that mental hole that had been created after Sachin’s dismissal. Kohli played some elegant strokes, rotating the strike often, letting Gambhir, who was looking increasingly good, to make the most of the bad balls. They ran hard and with conviction. Kohli was shaping up very good when Dilshan took a blinder off his own bowling to send him back. The match wasn’t won right then, it was still an uphill task, but now there was belief in the spectators as well.

It is a pleasure to watch Virat Kohli bat, not because of hard hitting strokes or huge sixes but for the ease with which he settles at the crease and moves between the wickets. It’s as smooth and pleasurable as spreading butter on toast with utmost evenness in one flash of hand. The singles give a joy that buckles up and a boundary every now and then that releases that pleasure in one fine move. There is that belief and that calmness which now accompanies him, whenever India’s future number 3 comes out to bat.