5 Best Centuries of Viral Kohli 

India's best
India's best

Change the format, change the opposition, change the venue, change the situation- this man remains the same. Yes, I'm speaking of none other than Indian captain Virat Kohli, who seems to have personified the value of 'k' (constant in Mathematics).

Such has been the Virat journey of Kohli in cricket that records have been forced to yield in front of India's talisman with unerring consistency. It seems that unlike other batsmen, he possesses a wand instead of the bat, enchanting one and sundry by its elegant gesticulation.

On Sunday, as Virat drove Kemar Roach through the extra cover, he entered his name into the record books for the umpteenth time. He eclipsed Sachin Tendulkar as the fastest to 60 international centuries, having achieved the milestone in 386 innings, as opposed to 426 of the Master Blaster.

Let's have a look at the 5 most sublime hundreds of Virat Kohli:


#5 160* vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2018

160* vs SA is the highest score for Virat Kohli as captain
160* vs SA is the highest score for Virat Kohli as captain

Virat Kohli has been hailed as the Chase Master, due to his robust temperament and execution in high-pressure chases. However, this knock while batting first was as classic as his efforts in the second innings.

Leading 2-0 in the 6 match series, India were keen on winning the match to ensure that they did not end up losing the series. Being invited to bat first, the team got off to the worst possible start as they lost Rohit Sharma on a duck. Calamity struck when Kohli was ruled out LBW on duck, but a hesitant DRS call caught a faint inside edge on the Snickometer ensured that he his stay on the crease was extended. And then, there was no looking back.

Virat Kohli started off cautiously and stitched a useful partnership with Shikhar Dhawan. He was the only batsman who got going in the middle overs, as the others found it extremely difficult to apply themselves. On a high scoring pitch, with the other players not succeeding, the onus was on Kohli to steer the innings.

To make matters worse Kohli started experiencing cramps towards the 90s. However, he exhibited great physical and mental capacity as he combined with the other batsmen, taking the majority of the strike and exhibiting the same level of athleticism.

Kohli's blinder saw India to 303/6, with the captain scoring 60% of the runs.

#4 149 vs England, Birmingham, 2018

Virat hit a chivalrous 149 against England
Virat hit a chivalrous 149 against England

Virat Kohli's Indian side faced England in the first Test at Birmingham, after a series of projections and predictions being made on his immediate future against the English fury. 134 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.40 - a point that was continuously raised by his critics when asked about his immaculate batsmanship.

King Kohli shunned off all apprehensions with a chivalrous hundred, superseding even the efforts of the best batsmen of the opponents' camp. Exhibiting his steely nerves yet again, Virat looked at utmost ease in the middle and paced the innings perfectly. He was the only ray of hope for the visitors as wickets kept falling at another end.

The skipper was quick enough to switch gears when the situation demanded, and demonstrated the art of batting with tailenders, as he notched partnerships of 105 runs in 25 overs, with the tail contributing just 8 runs!

Unfortunately, Virat's sublime 149 could not result in a victory for India, but this knock was a prowess of the man' mental shield.

#3 183 vs Pakistan, Mirpur, 2012

Image result for kohli 183 vs pak

A match which is remembered for an iconic partnership between the two greats of their eras- Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, was spectacled by yet another genius knock from the Run Machine.

Having suffered a defeat against Bangladesh, this game was a must win for India to stay in contention for the final. Pakistan had set a target of 330 for India, and in the absence of Sehwag, it was Gautam Gambhir to open the proceedings with Tendulkar. India were once again stranded on 0/1, and in came a young Virat Kohli, with a defeat looking inevitable on the cards.

However, Kohli had other plans, as he started scoring at a brisk pace. He displayed his wide array of shots, and kept an Indian victory well in reach. Kohli stitched 100+ stands with Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma and accelerated the pace of his innings towards the business end.

Kohli's undeterred effort saw India cruise to victory with 13 balls to spare. This is the highest individual score versus Pakistan in ODIs. This knock established Kohli's reputation as a dynamic chaser, which he further strengthened with other premium knocks.

#2 141 vs Australia, The Adelaide Oval, 2014

Virat Kohli hit twin hundreds in his first Test as captain
Virat Kohli hit twin hundreds in his first Test as captain

Virat Kohli assumed leadership duties for the first time in the longest format, with an injured MS Dhoni being forced to miss the game. Kohli led by example, as he struck a valiant 115 in the first innings.

In a high scoring encounter, India were set a target of 364 for victory with the last day's game remaining. At a juncture where most of the captains would have played for a draw, Virat exhibited his audacity, as he decided to play for a win against a fierce Australian attack. Once again, he led by example, with a defiant 141. However, his dismissal triggered a dismal collapse, and India were forced to concede the Test from a commanding position.

Virat's twin efforts went in vain, but it reflected the new spirit under a new leader. Kohli went on to earn the title of 'Captain Fearless" with this match, a testament to his demeanour in the truest sense.

#1 133* vs Sri Lanka, Hobart, 2012

Image result for virat 133 vs sl

The final league game of India in the 2012 Commonwealth Bank Series required them to win with a bonus point to stay alive in the tri-series. To make matters worse, Sri Lanka amassed 320 in their quota of 50 overs, and India needed to achieve the target in 40 overs to win with a bonus.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. This was the game that perhaps gifted a new talent to world cricket, someone who would rise leaps and bounds beyond others in the times to come. Virat Kohli made his way to the middle with 86-2, and announced his potential to the world with a display of his talent, technique, timing and temperament.

Lasith Malinga, world's best death bowler at that moment, was supposed to be the biggest threat for India. However, Kohli seemed to have a penchant for him, as he smacked Malinga all over the park, including a 24-run over.

It was due to Kohli's Hobart Heroics that India chased down the target in 36.4 overs.

Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️

Quick Links