Virat Kohli's T20I Career: Records He Couldn’t Achieve

Kohli's Retirement from T20I Cricket

Virat Kohli, celebrated as one of the finest T20I batsmen in history, officially announced his retirement from the format after India's triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024. His career was marked by numerous records and extraordinary performances in the shortest format of cricket. Despite his remarkable achievements, there were still a few records that eluded him. This article explores three significant T20I records that Kohli was unable to surpass during his illustrious journey.

Limited T20I Centuries

Throughout his international career, Kohli managed to score just one T20I century, which was an impressive 122* against Afghanistan during the 2022 Asia Cup. While he excelled in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with multiple centuries, he struggled to replicate that success in T20Is for India. In contrast, power hitters like Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell lead the T20I century chart with five centuries each. Kohli's consistency was commendable, but converting starts into centuries in T20Is proved to be a challenge.

Captaincy and ICC Trophy Shortcomings

Kohli took on the role of captain for the Indian Test team in 2014 and evolved into a prominent leader, known for his proactive approach. Under his guidance, India achieved remarkable success in Test cricket, including historic victories overseas. However, his tenure as T20I captain had its setbacks. During the 2021 T20 World Cup held in Dubai, Kohli led the Indian team but faced disappointment as they failed to progress past the group stage, losing two out of five matches. Despite securing four ICC titles, he did not clinch an ICC trophy during his captaincy.

Struggles with Sixes

Kohli was renowned for his exceptional timing, often surpassing many of his peers in this aspect. Rather than relying on sheer power, he utilized precision to find gaps in the field. In T20 Internationals, he hit 124 sixes across 117 innings, a commendable figure but significantly lower than Rohit Sharma, who leads with 205 sixes. Kohli's preference for well-placed boundaries over massive sixes showcased his ability to build an innings through skill and timing.