The top five defining innings of Virat Kohli

If you had to pick one man who truly rose through the ranks and dominated cricket in the last decade, it would undoubtedly be Virat Kohli.

So much has changed about him throughout the course of the past ten years, as has people’s perception of him. He’s come a long way from being termed by many as a brash and arrogant boy to being admired by fans and contemporaries alike and to truly becoming this mammoth figure who takes not just Indian cricket but also the cricketing culture around the world in the right direction.

The template of his success and the work ethic behind it is an inspiration not just for budding cricketers but for people from all walks of life. One must understand the work ethic and the sacrifices that have gone into becoming a cricketer in a cricket-crazy nation like India, where the odds of playing for the nation are Herculean.

What separates Virat Kohli from the rest is not only his ability to leave a permanent mark in a country that already has a rich legacy of producing giants of world cricket but also the deepening of his impact and raising the bar when it seemed impossible to raise it any further.

Below is a list of five innings across formats that not only reflect on the various aspects of Kohli’s game and his contribution to Indian cricket but also sum up his character and mettle in the face of adversity.

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1. Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2014-15, first Test: 141 against Australia in Adelaide
The famous Virat Kohli pep talk as captain in the absence of an injured MS Dhoni to his teammates on the eve of Day 5 of the first Test of the series beautifully sums up the attitude of Captain Kohli. Australia was batting overnight on Day 4 and was yet to declare. This is when Kohli is said to have told his teammates something which can be paraphrased as, “Whatever target they give us tomorrow, we’re going for it. If there’s any hesitation, you tell me right now, or we go to our rooms knowing and believing that we’re going to achieve any target come Day 5”.

Australia went on to declare and set India a target of 364 on the last day. To get 364 batting in the fourth innings on the last day is a very difficult task no matter the conditions or the opposition. However, to believe in oneself, that you can still make it, and to avoid the pessimistic and convenient tendency of playing for a draw showed the true character of the team and of the newly appointed captain. What followed was a man leading from the front and almost winning the game for his team. Rarely is there more satisfaction in a loss than in a win.

This innings is special for many reasons, as it didn’t just set the tone for Kohli’s leadership but also marked a paradigm shift in Indian cricket, firmly cementing the belief that this team could win anywhere in the world.

2. Pataudi Trophy 2018, first Test: 149 against England in Edgbaston
The 2014 tour of England was undoubtedly the lowest point in Virat Kohli’s career – 134 runs in ten innings with an average of 13.4 surely did not do justice to his calibre. That series in 2014 and the following World Cup semi-final loss in 2015 brought him undue criticism.

Although he was quick to silence his critics with a dream series in Australia in 2014-15 and he scaled greater heights in the subsequent years, if there was one feather missing in his cap, it was to do well in English conditions against the Dukes ball. From scoring 134 runs in ten innings in 2014 to scoring 149 in his very first outing in the next series, he truly cemented his dominance in world cricket.

This Test showed his ability to improve his game and not make the same mistakes. Kohli went on to score the most runs in the series (593), almost double the number of any other player from either team.

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3. Freedom Trophy 2018, second Test: 153 against South Africa in Centurion
This series marked the beginning of a long overseas season featuring tours to South Africa, England and Australia. While India went on to lose the series in South Africa and England, this innings presented early signs of the fact that this team could win overseas. These tours marked the arrival and dominance of India’s new pace attack, which ultimately culminated in India’s historic victory in Australia in 2018-19.

As they say, a captain is as good as his team, and often captains are judged on the basis of mere numbers. Perhaps a better and more nuanced way to judge a captain would be to acknowledge the tectonic shifts that contribute to the team’s legacy. There is a reason a captain like MAK Pataudi is credited with bringing in a culture of ‘oneness’ in an otherwise fragmented society. There is a reason why Sourav Ganguly is credited with instilling a belief in the team that they can do well overseas.

Kohli’s real contribution to this team must not be judged on the basis of pure numbers but for showing that we can not just do well but thrive overseas, for grooming and presiding over a new era of India’s pace domination and for taking professionalism and fitness in Indian cricket to the next level.

4. ODI tri-series 2011-12, Match 11: 133 not out against Sri Lanka in Hobart
This virtual knockout match required India to chase down the mammoth target of 321 in fewer than 40 overs to stand a chance of qualifying for the final of the series. This was the first time Virat Kohli showed that he was the true chase master. Maintaining calm under pressure, setting smaller targets and approaching the chase as two T20 games with targets of 160 each ensured that we comfortably chased the target down in 37 overs.

5. Ranji Trophy 2006-07: 90 against Karnataka in Dehli
Think of the commitment and sheer mental strength of an 18-year-old boy to not only find a way to overcome the grief of losing one’s father but also have the courage to go back to the field the next morning and save his team from the jaws of defeat with an inspiring knock of 90. This has to be the toughest and best innings of Kohli’s cricketing career and the greatest testimony to the character and mettle of arguably the greatest cricketer the world has ever witnessed.