Virat Kohli Reveals His Favorite ODI Innings: A Surprising Choice
Kohli's Unexpected ODI Selection
On November 5, as he celebrated his 38th birthday, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli shared an unexpected choice for his favorite ODI innings. He selected his 43 runs against England during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, surprising many fans who anticipated a nod to his more celebrated centuries.
In a video released by a prominent sports channel, Kohli reflected on his career, mentioning his recent performance where he scored 74 runs off 51 balls against New Zealand. When asked to pick his top ODI innings, he began with a modest 35 runs in the 2011 World Cup final, which played a crucial role in stabilizing India's chase of 275 runs after a shaky start.
Kohli's choice of the 35 runs in the World Cup final overshadowed his remarkable 133 not out against Sri Lanka in 2012 and an 85-run innings during the 2023 World Cup opener against Australia, where India faced early setbacks.
He also opted for the 43 runs in the Champions Trophy final over his impressive 122 against England in 2017, which came during a challenging chase of 351 runs. Notably, he did not select his 160-run innings against South Africa in 2018, where he showcased his running prowess.
When it came down to choosing between his World Cup final performance and the Champions Trophy innings, Kohli ultimately favored the latter. In that match, India was struggling at 66 for 5 in a rain-affected game, but he managed to build a vital partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who contributed 33 runs, leading India to a narrow five-run victory.
Kohli's selection of this 43-run innings over other iconic performances, including his 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup and his 138 against South Africa in 2015, highlights the significance of the match in his career.
With an impressive collection of trophies, including a 50-over World Cup, a T20 World Cup, two Champions Trophy titles, and two IPL championships, Kohli stands out as one of cricket's all-time greats. He also holds the record for the most successful Test captain in India, achieving 40 wins out of 68 matches.
In his Test career, Kohli has played 123 matches, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. He ranks as India's fourth-highest scorer in Test cricket. In ODIs, he is the second-highest run-scorer globally, with 15,183 runs in 318 matches, boasting an impressive average of 58.84, which includes a record 55 centuries.
In T20Is, Kohli ranks third with 4,188 runs in 125 innings, maintaining an average of 48.69, with one century and 38 fifties. Overall, he is the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history, with 28,601 runs across 566 matches, averaging 52.86, and achieving 86 centuries.