What if Virat Kohli played before the dawn of ODI cricket?

#3 Lasith Malinga’s downfall would have been postponed by a couple of years

Kohli’s innings against Sri Lanka and Malinga in 2012 was a memorable one

In the limited overs format, Lasith Malinga was invincible and was difficult to play against. He was predictable, yet batsmen were unable to counter him. He was at the top of his career and also was going through a purple patch until Virat Kohli halted it.

India was looking down the barrel with a target of 320 runs in 40 overs in order to stand a chance of getting through to the finals of the ODI triangular series in Australia in 2012. Kohli took centre-stage and carted the Lankan bowlers to all corners.

Malinga was taken to the cleaners and 24 runs were plundered in one of his overs as the current Indian captain went deep into his crease and didn’t spare even the vicious yorkers. The over, probably, was a manifestation of the fact that playing out Malinga is within the capabilities of a human being.