5 times Virat Kohli's heroics went in vain while chasing

The reputation of Virat Kohli is increasing by the day and there is little doubt that he is the best batsmen when it comes down to chasing down totals. No target seems to be safe when Kohli is batting and is the zone. He has the remarkable ability to pace his innings and find gaps in the field,and the uncanny ability to drag the team past the target all by himself.

His records when India are chasing down totals are astounding: 4408 runs at an average of 61.22 which includes 15 of his 25 centuries have come during chasing and only once has that century come in a losing cause.

He has the ability to soak in the pressure and get the job done and almost has it all figured out in his system. In Twenty20s, he has been beyond comparison and his average in successful chases is 122.83.

However, there are been instances when his inspired innings have not been enough to take his side home. These have been few and far in between, but we have picked 5 such instances when the ‘master of the chase’ has not been quite able to carry his team through.

123 vs New Zealand in Napier (India tour of New Zealand 2014)

Chasing 293 runs against New Zealand in Napier during the first ODI, Virat Kohli assumed centre stage and scored a sublime 12th century, and India was on course, but as soon as Kohli was dismissed at the score of 237, when he failed to keep a meek full toss outside off down, the Indian innings derailed, and they eventually fell short by 37 runs.

This is the only instance when a Virat Kohli century went in vain. A heroic effort indeed!

141 vs Australia in Adelaide (Australia vs India first test 2014)

This was perhaps the finest test innings Virat has played. Acting as a stand-in captain in place of MS Dhoni, Kohli seemed to be in a zone of his own. India was set a daunting total of 364 runs in the fourth innings on a wearing Adelaide surface. Coming in at 57/2, Kohli combined beautifully with opener Murali Vijay, and the duo played some unbridled cricket to drag the team to 242 when Murali Vijay was dismissed for 99. Kohli, however, was determined to chase the target down all by himself and while wickets falling around him, the skipper never was hassled. However, a pull shot could not get the desired result and Kohli was caught at deep mid-wicket for a valiant 141. India collapsed after this dismissal and eventually Australia won the match by 48 runs.

Ian Chappell, the former Australian captain has hailed this innings the best he has seen while chasing down totals. Kohli had already scored a century in the first innings too, and he became only the second batsman after Greg Chappell to score two centuries on captaincy debut. All this came after one week of the tragic death of Phillip Hughes. A herculean effort indeed, but alas the master of chases did not get to the target.

77 vs South Africa in Rajkot (India vs South Africa ODI series 2015)

The aura of Virat Kohli was at its peak, and it was taken for granted that if he is in pursuit of any total, the target would be surely breached.

On a sluggish Rajkot surface and in the searing heat, Kohli along with MS Dhoni, two of the greatest ODI players to have played the game had the chase under control all along. But then suddenly they lost the momentum and South Africa strangled them.

Chasing a target of 271, India were well on course at 206/3 in the 44th over, and then out of nowhere Morne Morkel came back and accounted for Virat Kohli followed by Ajinkya Rahane, and the chase was derailed just like that.

Another instance when everything was hunky dory for Kohli and his dismissal sparked a mini-collapse and India could never get to the target.

66 vs England in Edgbaston (India tour of England 2014 only T20Is)

Virat Kohli was having a forgettable tour of England, and he got to his first half-century of the tour after 14 innings across different formats. He looked in control during the chase of 181 and cruised to 66 before he perished to Steven Finn trying to hook the ball. The equation was still in India’s favour as they needed 50 from 34 balls, but then James Tredwell, the off-spinner bowled a tight 16th over, and panic struck the visitors. Suresh Raina was bowled and Ravindra Jadeja ran himself out.

MS Dhoni took it upon himself to finish off matches in the final over, but somehow the finisher could not muster enough in the final ball, and India went down by 3 runs in the final ball.

The wicket of Virat Kohli turned the tide once again.

47 vs Mumbai Indians in Durban (Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians Champions League 2010)

Young, brash, belligerent and a growing Virat Kohli was the new young star in the cricketing world. He had arrived at the international stage and played as a finisher for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Coming in at number 6, Kohli combined with Rahul Dravid and brought down the chase to 40 off the last 3 overs and then 13 off the final over. Kohli was on strike facing Zaheer Khan, and smoked 2 boundaries, and needed one final boundary off the last ball. Zaheer bowled a low full toss that deserved to go to the boundary, but Kohli could not get the gap, nor could he keep his shot down and Ambati Rayudu pouched the catch. A bread and butter shot, and the image of Kohli sinking down on his haunches and Rahul Dravid consoling him is one for the ages.

In hindsight, it was all for a reason, all a part of the learning process.