Not a Century! Virat Kohli's Surprise Pick for His Top ODI Knock
Forget the centuries! Virat Kohli reveals the surprising low-scoring innings he considers his best ODI knock.
When you are a player with 55 ODI centuries to your name, you would expect your "best" innings to be a massive hundred. However, Indian batting legend Virat Kohli has stunned fans by revealing that his favorite One Day International (ODI) knock wasn't a century at all, but a gritty 43.
Speaking in a video posted by Star Sports, Kohli—who recently celebrated his 38th birthday after a blistering 74 off 51 balls against New Zealand—was asked to narrow down his greatest ODI performance. In a series of tough choices, the master chaser bypassed some of the most iconic knocks in cricket history to find his ultimate favorite.
The Road to the Final Choice
Kohli's selection process was a journey through his illustrious career. He first weighed his 35 in the 2011 World Cup final against several legendary centuries. He chose that modest 35—which helped stabilize the chase after India slumped to 31/2—over the following masterclasses:
- His 133* against Sri Lanka in Hobart (2012) during a chase of 321.
- His 85 against Australia in the 2023 World Cup opener, where India recovered from a disastrous 2/3.
- His 122 against England in 2017, where he rescued the team from 63/4 while chasing 351.
- His 160 against South Africa in Cape Town (2018), a knock famous for the sheer volume of runs he scored by running between the wickets.
The Ultimate Winner: 43 vs England
The final showdown came down to two crucial, low-scoring contributions: his 35 in the 2011 World Cup final and his 43 in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy final against England. In a surprising twist, Kohli chose the 43-run knock as his top performance.
The 2013 final was a rain-curtailed 20-over clash where India found themselves in dire straits at 66/5. Kohli stepped up to form a vital 47-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who contributed a crucial 33. This gritty stand propelled India to a narrow five-run victory, securing the trophy.
By picking this innings, Kohli effectively ranked a 43-run fight-back above some of his most dominant centuries, including:
- The mammoth 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup.
- The 138 against South Africa in Chennai (2015).
- The historic 107 against Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup—the first-ever century by an Indian batter against Pakistan in a World Cup.
A Legacy of Dominance
Kohli's preference for the 2013 final highlights his valuation of match-winning impact over individual milestones. His trophy cabinet reflects this success, boasting a 50-over World Cup, a T20 World Cup, two Champions Trophy titles, and two IPL titles.
Beyond the trophies, Kohli's statistics remain staggering. He is the world's second-highest ODI run-getter with 15,183 runs and a record 55 centuries. In Test cricket, he stands as India's most successful captain with 40 wins in 68 matches and is the fourth-highest run-scorer for India with 9,230 runs. Across all international formats, he has amassed a colossal 28,601 runs, cementing his place as one of the greatest to ever play the game.