Virat Kohli has already etched his name in the list of greatest players to ever play for India in international cricket. He has been among India’s most loved cricketers and has shattered several records across formats. Although, Kohli already hung up his boots from T20Is and Tests, he continues to play for India in the 50-over format and his main focus will be now on the ODI World Cup in 2027.
Virat Kohli started his international cricket with an ODI match against Sri Lanka on August 18, 2008. From then, Kohli started his journey to become one of the greatest ODI cricketers of all time amassing over 14000 runs in more than 300 matches in the format. He was also a part of the Indian team that won the ODI World Cup in 2011. He became world champion at the age of 22 in his first-ever World Cup edition for India. Since then, he has also represented India in the next ODI World Cup editions in 2015, 2019 and 2023 respectively.
Virat Kohli was captain of the Indian team in the 2019 ODI World Cup in England and led his team to the semi-final in that edition. Throughout the years, Kohli has played several match-winning knocks in the ODI World Cup and guided India to famous victories. In the following listicle, we will have a look at the top five knocks of Virat Kohli in the history of ODI World Cup.
5. 67 vs Afghanistan, Southampton, 2019
A captain’s knock at a big stage. Virat Kohli led from the front when India’s batting lineup was struggling in the 2019 World Cup clash against Afghanistan at the The Ageas Bowl in Southampton on June 22. Batting first, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals but Kohli took the innings further with his knock of 67(63) runs with five boundaries. With the help of his knock, India posted 224 runs for the loss of eight wickets. After that, it was Mohammed Shami’s brilliant four-wicket haul including a hat-trick in the last over as India clinched a thrilling 11-run win over Afghanistan.
4. 85 vs Australia, Chennai, 2023
India’s first game in the home ODI World Cup and India were three down for just two runs while chasing a target of 200 against Australia. Bowling first, the Indian bowlers did a brilliant job as they bowled Australia out for 199 in 49.3 overs at M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 8, 2023. In reply, India lost both their openers for a duck including Ishan Kishan and skipper Rohit Sharma. Shreyas Iyer also couldn’t add any run as India were now 2/3 after two overs. After that, Virat Kohli took charge of the innings along with KL Rahul.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul put up a partnership of 165 runs as India took the game away from Australia despite a disastrous start. Kohli couldn’t complete his hundred but ensured that India wouldn’t lose a match as he got out after scoring 85 runs off 116 balls, hitting six boundaries. After that, KL Rahul did the unfinished job with an unbeaten 97*(115) runs as India chased the target in 41.2 overs to kickstart their home ODI World Cup with a win.
3. 100* vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2011
First-ever World Cup game for the then 22-year-old Virat Kohli and he made it memorable with a famous ton against Bangladesh in Mirpur on February 19, 2011. India were playing their first match of the edition and Virender Sehwag stole the show with his knock of 175(140) as India posted a match–winning total of 370/4 in their 50 overs. Along with Sehwag, Kohli also took charge against Bangladesh bowlers and went onto score a hundred in his first-ever World Cup game for India. The young batter scored an unbeaten 100*(83) runs, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
2. 107 vs Pakistan, Adelaide, 2015
Coming as defending champions, India were set to face the arch-rivals Pakistan in their first game of the 2015 ODI World Cup at Adelaide Oval on February 15. For India, it was again Virat Kohli who stood up on a big occasion and scored his second World Cup hundred accumulating 107 runs off 126 balls, hitting eight boundaries. With the help of his knock, India posted 300/7 and went on to win the match by 76 runs.
1. 117 vs New Zealand, Semi-final, Mumbai, 2023
A World Cup semi-final and Virat Kohli notched the record-breaking hundred, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar in front of him at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15, 2023. Coming after winning nine league matches straight, India were now set to face New Zealand, against whom they ended up losing in the previous semi-final in 2019. Kohli, who registered underwhelming scores of 9,1 and 1 in his previous three semi-final outings, didn’t let the opportunity go out of his hand this time.
Scoring his third hundred of the edition, Virat Kohli also achieved a historic feat as he completed 50 hundreds in ODI cricket, surpassing Tendulkar who had 49 to his name. After reaching the milestone, Kohli bowed down to the Master Blaster who was present in the stands to witness this iconic moment. Kohli scored 117(113) along with Shreyas Iyer’s 105-run knock as India posted a mammoth 397/4. After that, India restricted New Zealand to 327 runs to win by 70 runs and enter the ODI World Cup final after 12 years.
