3 knockout games where Virat Kohli could not get his team past the finishing line

When you talk about modern-day chase masters, there is one name that will instantly come to mind, and that man is - the Indian captain, Virat Kohli.

The legend of Kohli is essentially built on his ability to manoeuvre a run-chase with death-defying ease and precision. While his first ODI ton came in a run-chase (against Sri Lanka in 2009), he rose to prominence truly when he annihilated the Sri Lankan attack at Hobart that helped India chase down 321 in a mere 36 overs.

Since then, Kohli has established himself as the chase-master for whom any target is within the realms of reality whether it is Mirpur 2012, where he registered his career-best 183 to chase down 338 against Pakistan or Jaipur 2013, where he en-route to the fastest ODI ton by an Indian, massacred the Aussies to help India chase down 360.

Kohli's presence gives India an assurance that any target can be chased down, however, on the flip side, it also puts a humongous pressure on the team whenever Kohli fails to get going in a run-chase.

In this article, we take a look at three such instances when Virat Kohli failed to take his team past the finishing line in a run-chase:

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#3 India vs Australia, 2015, Sydney Cricket Ground

Anushka Sharma received

an unwanted

flak from the fans after Kohli's dismissal in the semi-finals

Occasion: ICC Cricket World Cup, Semi-Final, 2015

The defending World Champions, India came into the all-important semi-finals against hosts Australia on the back of a seven-match winning streak.

Australia batted first and courtesy of pristine hundreds from Aaron Finch and Steven Smith racked up 328-7 in 50 overs.

In reply, India got off to a blazing start courtsey Shikhar Dhawan but they still needed their talisman Virat Kohli to do an encore of what he has been famous for - a century in a run-chase.

Kohli had started off the tournament in blazing style with a ton against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval but his form tapered off as the tournament progressed.

His form reached its nadir during the semi-finals when in an attempt to pull the ball off Mitchell Johnson, he top-edged the ball straight up in the air only to be gobbled by Brad Haddin, ending India's hopes of retaining their World Cup title.

India was eventually bowled out for 233 in 46.5 overs to hand Australia the ticket to the World Cup finals and Kohli received loads of unwanted flak for his failure in the all-important semi-finals.

#2 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2016

Kohli after being dismissed for 54 in the IPL finals

Occasion: 2016 IPL Final

To be fair to Kohli, he'd done everything one could have asked for to take his team - the Royal Challengers Bangalore, from the brink of elimination to the cusp of glory in the 2016 edition of the Indian Premier League.

From racking up a Brobdingnagian 973 runs in 16 games (an IPL record that stands till date) to amassing four hundreds in a single season, Kohli broke a plethora of records during that season.

He did score 54 in the finals with his team chasing 209 set by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the finals but the RCB skipper, so unlike his reputation, got out at a crucial juncture, triggering a collapse from which his team could never recover.

Chasing 209, Kohli (54) had stitched a 114-run stand Gayle (76) and at one stage looked set to steer his side past the finishing line before he was castled by Barinder Sran. Kohli's wicket triggered a collapse and RCB eventually fell short by 8 runs leaving the Indian skipper agonizingly short of the IPL title, yet again.

#1 India vs Pakistan, The Oval, 2017

Amir bowled a match-winning spell that included the wicket of Virat Kohli

Occasion:- ICC Champions Trophy, Final

"Pakistan Cricket at its best - one minute down, next minute up"

Those were Nasser Hussain's words on air as the Pakistanis hovered around Mohammad Amir after the left-arm pacer had scalped perhaps the most prized wicket in World Cricket today - Virat Kohli.

Amir should have got Kohli the previous ball when the Indian captain had edged an away swinger straight to the second slip except for Azhar Ali's refusal to gobble it. But it was Pakistan's day. It was Amir's moment to savour. The next ball, Kohli, in his quintessential way, tried to flick it past square-leg but ended up edging it to backward point.

Amir was relieved. Pakistan was, well, over the moon. They knew Kohli's wicket was the gateway to the Champions Trophy crown, and it is proved to be just that.

India was bowled out for 158 in response to Pakistan's 338 and a new champion was crowned.