6 Instances when Virat Kohli's ODI century came in a losing cause

CricWiz
Kohli walks back after scoring a century against New Zealand in 2014
Kohli walks back after scoring a century against New Zealand in 2014

Virat Kohli's golden run continued as he struck his 38th ODI century in the third ODI against West Indies. The Indian captain has been in sublime form and became the first Indian to score three consecutive centuries in ODIs.

Kohli scored a masterful 107 against West Indies and at one stage looked like getting India home comfortably. But everything went haywire once Kohli was dismissed.

In fact, Kohli was the only Indian batsman who got set in the middle. Dhawan, Rayudu, Pant all of them got starts but failed to convert them into big scores. Dhoni's poor form continued as he got out on 7.

With Bhuvneshwar Kumar batting at number 7, it meant a long tail for the home side and Kohli eventually ran out of partners and his brilliant batting effort went in vain. However, this is not the first time that India has lost a match in which Kohli scored a century.

There have been six instances where India went on to lose the match after a Kohli century. Here is a look at those 6 instances:


#6 India vs England, Cardiff, 2011

Kohli helped India reach a strong total of 304
Kohli helped India reach a strong total of 304

Having already lost the series, India was playing for pride in the last match of the ODI series against England in 2011. Batting first, India scored 304 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.

Virat Kohli top scored with 107 runs in just 102 balls and laid a strong foundation for team India. Dravid also made a useful contribution of 69 runs while MS Dhoni scored a quickfire 50 to propel India to 304.

But India's bowling performance was extremely poor. Interruption from the rain gods meant England was set a target of 241 runs in 34 overs. Riding on Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook's fifties, the home side chased down the target with 10 balls to spare and won the 5-match series 3-0.

#5 India vs New Zealand, Napier, 2014

Kohli celebrating his first ODI century in New Zealand
Kohli celebrating his first ODI century in New Zealand

The second instance where India lost the match despite Kohli scoring a century came in the first ODI against New Zealand played at Napier in 2014.

India won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat first. New Zealand made a competitive score of 292 runs.

India did not get off to best of starts as Rohit Sharma was dismissed for just 3 runs in the sixth over. But Kohli steadied the proceedings and along with Shikhar Dhawan helped India put on a useful partnership.

But unfortunately, Dhawan got out on 32 which inflicted a middle-order collapse. That is when Dhoni and Kohli got together and stitched an important partnership of 95 runs. However, Dhoni got dismissed for 40 and after a couple of overs, Kohli also got out on 123 which ended India's pursuit for New Zealand's 292.

Despite Kohli's masterclass, India fell short by 24 runs.

#4 India vs Australia, Melbourne, 2016

Kohli's 117 couldn't help India win the match
Kohli's 117 couldn't help India win the match

The ODI series between India and Australia played down under in 2016 will always be remembered for the number of runs that were scored during the course of the series. The pitches in that particular series were a graveyard for bowlers and paradise for the batsmen.

Having already lost the first couple of matches, it was a case of do-or-die for team India. Australia won the toss and chose to field first. India suffered a huge blow in the form of Rohit Sharma in as early as the fifth over.

Kohli walked in to bat at No. 3 and scored a fabulous century. The current Indian captain was involved in two crucial partnerships and his run-a-ball 117 helped India reach a total of 295 runs.

Unfortunately for Kohli and team India, the Indian bowlers failed to contain a Glenn Maxwell powered-Australian team who chased down the target with 7 balls to spare.

#3 India vs Australia, Canberra, 2016

Kohli being congratulated by Dhawan after scoring a century
Kohli being congratulated by Dhawan after scoring a century

India's bowling woes continued in the very next match of the same series. Having already lost the series, the hapless Indian bowling-attack conceded 348 runs in the 4th ODI. Chasing down a target close to 350 is never an easy task but the Indian batsmen had other ideas.

After giving his team a brisk start, Rohit Sharma got out after playing a cameo of 41 runs off just 25 balls. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli continued the good work as both the players reached their personal landmarks of 100 runs.

India was cruising at one stage after being at 277 for 1 in the 38th over. However, a dramatic collapse resulted in India losing Dhawan, Kohli and Dhoni for just one run and from being 277 for 1, India went to 278 for 4.

The rest of the Indian batting fell like a house of cards and India got all out for 323 runs and slumped to an embarrassing defeat.

#2 India vs New Zealand, Mumbai, 2017

Kohli against New Zealand in 2017
Kohli against New Zealand in 2017

The first instance when Kohli's century came in a losing cause playing at home was in the first ODI against New Zealand in 2017.

India was considered favourites to win the match but the Kiwis showed their mettle by putting up a winning performance.

Batting first, India did not get off a good start losing both the openers with just 29 runs on the board. Batsmen did get starts but couldn't capitalise on it. The only player who looked in complete control was Virat Kohli.

India's batting revolved around Kohli as the ace batsman scored a well compiled century. Kohli finally got dismissed for 121 helping India reach 280 runs.

New Zealand stuttered in the chase as they were 80 for 3 at one point of time. But Tom Latham and Ross Taylor displayed stunning batsmanship, putting up a partnership in excess of 200 runs. In the end, it was a cakewalk for New Zealand as they won the match by 6 wickets.

#1 India vs West Indies, Pune, 2018

Kohli raises his bat after reaching the three-figure mark
Kohli raises his bat after reaching the three-figure mark

The first time that Kohli scored a century as a captain in ODIs and India lost the match came in the ongoing series against West Indies.

India was at full bowling strength as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah made a comeback to the ODI side, but that did not make much difference with West Indies scoring a 283 for 9 in the first innings.

With the kind of batting form team India is at the moment, the target did not seem threatening for the mighty Indian batting line-up. After Rohit Sharma's early wicket, Dhawan and Kohli brought India close to the hundred run mark before Dhawan got dismissed for 35.

Even though Kohli looked in terrific form, the struggling Indian middle-order failed to provide support to their skipper. Rayudu, Pant, Dhoni got out in quick succession and India's chase was jolted.

Running out of partners, Kohli played a rash shot against Marlon Samuels which ended his innings at 107 runs. Kohli's wicket ended India's hope of winning the match and India eventually lost the match by 43 runs.

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

Quick Links