Virat Kohli is one of the greatest batsmen in the modern era and his consistency in all formats is simply staggering.
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Virat Kohli is one of the greatest batsmen in the modern era. His consistency with which he has given India victories while chasing is marvelous. Kohli had helped the Indian cricket fan overcome the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar. In this period, Kohli has amassed records which are enviable to every fan in the world. Kohli is the only batsman to score over 20,000 runs combined across formats in this decade. The right-hander also has 70 international centuries. His consistency has put him within touching distance of breaking Tendulkar’s tally of 100 international centuries. Kohli has 43 ODI centuries, which is eight behind Tendulkar’s world record tally of 51 ODI centuries.
The Indian cricket team skipper is also the leading run-getter in the IPL. He has the most centuries behind Chris Gayle. In the 2016 edition, Kohli smashed 973 runs in one edition which also included four centuries. Kohli also has seven double centuries, which is the most by any player overtaking Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid.
His 43 ODI centuries, 27 Test centuries and five IPL tons are all memorable. Every major knock only cements his reputation as one of the greatest in the business. Here is a look at his best centuries in ODIs, Tests and the IPL.
February 28, 2012 was perhaps the date which saw the arrival of Kohli the match-winner. Sri Lanka notched up an impressive 320/4 thanks to Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 160 and Kumar Sangakkara’s 105. India started well but lost wickets quickly. In stepped Kohli and he went on to produce an absolute masterclass.
India needed to chase 321 runs in under 40 overs in order to remain in contention for a final. Kohli batted like a man possessed. In one over, Kohli blasted four boundaries and a six off Lasith Malinga as he smashed 24 runs in one over. Kohli blasted 133 runs off 86 balls as India chased the target in just 36.4 overs. The Hobart ODI heralded the brilliance of Kohli and since then, he has never looked back.
If MS Dhoni is the captain of the opposition team, then a batsman has to perform to an extraordinary level to ensure that his team is beaten. In IPL 2016, MS Dhoni was captain of the Rising Pune Supergiant squad. Rahane hit 74 as Rising Pune Supergiant notched up 191/6.
Virat Kohli got the better of Dhoni by smashing a century. His final knock of 108 included eight fours and seven sixes as Royal Challengers Bangalore chased a steep total down.
The two greatest knocks in the ultimate heartbreak. The Adelaide Oval had already made Kohli famous when he hit a brilliant 116 in the 2012 Test. In 2014, Australia notched up a total in excess of 500 thanks to centuries from David Warner and Michael Clarke.
India responded with Kohli hitting a brilliant 115 in the first innings. Australia gave India a target of 364 after Steve Smith hit a century and the hosts declared. For some time, India seemed to be coasting towards the target as Murali Vijay and Kohli took the attack to the Australia bowling.
Kohli became the first Indian after Vijay Hazare to hit a century in both innings as his love affair with Adelaide continued. However, Nathan Lyon produced a brilliant spell in which he took four quick wickets and India collapsed. Kohli kept the flame flickering when he neared 150 but on 141, he pulled Lyon to Mitchell Marsh at deep midwicket and Australia won a pulsating match by 48 runs. Kohli had produced two brilliant knocks but it was a massive heartbreak.
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