3 classic T20 chases by Virat Kohli against Australia

Virat Kohli is the quintessential chase master in the history of the game. Be it ODIs, T20s and even in Test matches, he has taken up the mantle to close out games for India. His stats are almost unimaginable when it comes to successful run-chases.

Kohli averages a whopping 120.62 in successful T20 chases with 965 runs in an unfathomable 19 innings. 9 of his 19 T20 fifties have come in run-chases and he has remained unbeaten in 11 innings taking his side home.

Kohli surely relishes the big stage and revels under pressure. His mantra in chasing targets has never changed. He takes his time to get a feel of the wicket after which he builds the innings with a constant rotation of strike.

He runs hard between the wickets and plays percentage cricket and puts the foot on the pedestal when the run-rate goes up. Opposition captains often find themselves clueless, when this batting genius treads the field and makes a mockery of the bowling plans.

Let's look into some of his famous T20 chases against the Australians

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#3 Sydney, 3rd T20 International 2018 - 61* of 41 balls

It was a series decider and Australia won the toss and elected to bat on a two-paced pitch. Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short provided a good opening partnership with 68 in 8.3 overs.

Krunal Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav applied the brakes in the middle overs, picking up 5 wickets between themselves. Alex Carey and Marcus Stoinis provided the much-required impetus to the innings to bolster Australia to a competitive 164 for 6 in 20 overs.

India got off to a rollicking start with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan going hammers and tongs and notching up 67 in 6 overs. Once Dhawan was dismissed, Indian captain Virat Kohli walked only to see Rohit being bamboozled by Adam Zampa. India fell into a hole with the dismissals of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in quick succession.

Virat Kohli combined with Dinesh Karthik and the duo consolidated the situation. Kohli was severe against Andre Tye, hitting him for a boundary and a six when India needed over 10 per over.

He managed to smack another six off Glenn Maxwell to bring the asking rate under 9. He raised his fifty and scored to cracking boundaries to finish the contest. Kohli was unbeaten on 61 and he had once again done it for India.

#2 Sydney, 3rd T20 International 2016 - 50 of 36 balls

Australia had won the toss and captain Shane Watson put up a show with a massive unbeaten 124. Australia managed to score a mammoth 197 after India bowled well in the last couple of overs. It was nevertheless a daunting challenge to the strong Indian batting line-up before the World T20 2016.

India got off to a tremendous start with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan adding 46 in 3 overs. Once Dhawan was dismissed, Rohit and Kohli added 78 runs in 55 balls. Kohli looked in great touch and played some exquisite inside-out drives.

Upon Rohit's dismissal, Kohli tried to up the ante and notched up his half-century in the process. When it looked all but over for the Aussies, Cameron Boyce dismissed Kohli with India needing 51 from 31 balls.

Suresh Raina played a blinder with Yuvraj Singh for company as India chased down the target off the last ball and whitewashed Australia 3-0.

#1 Mohali, World T20 2016 - 82* of 51 balls

This encounter was a virtual quarter-final and the winner of this crucial tie between India and Australia would advance to the semis. Australia had no hesitation in batting first on a two-paced pitch expected to slow down.

The Kangaroos got off to a flyer, scoring 54 runs in 5 overs. Once the spinners were introduced, they applied the brakes on the scoring. Finch scored 43 and Australia scored 160 which was considered a par score.

India were off to a poor start losing Dhawan in the 4th over with score reading 23. In walked Virat Kohli and announced his arrival with two classy boundaries played through mid-wicket and point region.

Once Rohit and Raina were dismissed, India needed 113 in 12 overs. Yuvraj Singh was struggling due to an injury, but Kohi did not lose his composure and kept rotating the strike. He advanced down the track and collected a six of Maxwell.

When Yuvraj was dismissed, Dhoni joined Kohli and the duo ran at a break-neck speed between the wickets. Kohli notched up his 50 off 42 balls and India needed 39 from the last 3 overs.

James Faulkner was introduced and Kohli hit a couple of boundaries on both sides of the wicket before hoisting him over long off for a six. In the next over, Nathan Coulter-Nile was smashed for 16 runs consisting of sumptuous cover drives and a pull. Dhoni finished the game by scoring the winning runs.

This was arguably the best innings ever played in T20 cricket. There were memes all over internet comparing this knock with Sachin Tendulkar's 143 against Australia in 1998.