Ton machine turns 30: Remembering Kohli’s 3 finest knocks

Indian skipper Virat Kohli is celebrating his 30th birthday today. The right-hand batsman is currently at number one in ICC’s ODI and Test batting ranking and is miles ahead of his peers with his staggering numbers.

In his decade long cricket career, Kohli has produced several astonishing knocks and picking the best of them is a daunting task. Nevertheless we recall the three innings that stamped Kohl’s dominance in world cricket.

30 years, 62 hundreds: just wow! Happy birthday to the millennial master @imVkohli ! ??

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) November 5, 2018

3. 183 versus Pakistan, 2012-

In 2012, Kohli had already stunned Sri Lanka with a sensational century in Australia but when he met Pakistan in Asia Cup the stakes were higher and the pressure at the peak.

However nothing fazed Kohli as he reduced Pakistan to a pulp while chasing 330 nonchalantly. This knock proved that the inning against Sri Lanka wasn’t a fluke and by the time Kohli finished his innings on 183, a chase master had officially emerged in ODI cricket.

You share your birthday with#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/AmX3Yn6nsz

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) November 5, 2018

2. 100* vs Australia, 2013-

This was unreal. This was beyond magnificent. If the six over third-man is the symbol of Sachin’s assault against Pakistan in 2003, then the six over covers against Mitchell Johnson is symbol of Kohli’s utter brilliance against Australia at Jaipur in 2013.

India were chasing 360 runs and when Kohli came to the crease they needed 184 off 143 balls. And then Kohli happened. He disdainfully brushed aside the Johnsons, Mckays and Dohertys to score the quickest hundred by an Indian and the chase got over with eight overs remaining.

On a flat patch, runs were scored through Tsunamis so the numbers didn’t matter but what remains still fresh is Kohli dancing down the track and punching Johnson on the up over covers  for a six.

1. 160* vs South Africa, 2018-

His dominance in chases is established but little is known about his surgical batting while setting a target. Against South Africa in 2018, the Indian batsman weaved magic that reflected his stunning planning, his unmatched fitness and complete commitment to his art.

Also read: Krunal wanted to bowl to Pollard: Rohit 

Barring Shikhar Dhawan no other Indian scored more than 20 runs but the Indian skipper managed to get 160 runs. He scampered, he struggled, he fought Tahir, Ngidi and Rabada and when he walked back not out after fifty overs, India had 303 runs on the board and everyone was at their feet applauding the genius.

With Virat Kohli celebrating his 30th birthday today, let's take a look back at his maiden Test ton from 2012 against the Aussies! pic.twitter.com/3i49NxYRVP

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 5, 2018