10 years of Kohli’s International Career: 10 of his most significant match-winning performances

#5 43 vs England - ICC Champions Trophy (ODI) Final at Birmingham - 2013

India’s only ICC Champions Trophy victory among four final appearances did not come easy. India were joint champions in 2002, but never won a final. India would have ended their 2013 campaign with the same tag, had the rain gods not spared the game in time. The pitch and the outfield dried up just minutes before the cut-off time for a 20 overs per side game - the minimum required to constitute an ODI. More light spells of rains followed, but that didn’t stop the game. England put India in to bat, and broke through early with the wicket of Rohit Sharma with India at 19.

Virat sweeps against England, ICC Champions Trophy Final at Birmingham, 23 June 2013.

Shikhar Dhawan dominated for a while, but India collapsed after reaching 50, losing the next four wickets in the space of 16 runs. Kohli found an able partner in the form of Ravindra Jadeja - the ‘Golden Ball’ winner of that tournament. He anchored the innings and attacked only the loose balls. Kohli got out in the penultimate over, top-scoring with 43 out of India’s total of 129 for 7. England’s chase had many crests and troughs, but Ashwin held his nerve to deliver a brave last over, with England needing 7 off the last ball. Had it not been for Kohli’s 43, it would have been tough for India to put up a competitive score.