The greatest batsman of the modern era, Virat Kohli took retirement from T20 internationals after playing one of his greatest knocks in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup on Saturday against South Africa in Barbados.
Well, this isn’t the first time when we saw the run-machine Kohli playing an impactful knock in a knockout encounter of an ICC event. There is no denying that Virat Kohli has made the biggest contribution with the bat in the T20 World Cups, over the years.
Be it the 2014 edition or the 2016 T20 World Cup edition, Virat Kohli ensured he scored runs consistently and gave India the best chance of winning the tournament.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t find form in the recently concluded 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup. However, when it mattered the most in the final match of the tournament, Virat Kohli, once again, absorbed all the pressure and stood like a wall.
He ensured India didn’t collapse after losing three quick wickets and took India to a winning total. Virat has played such knocks many times in his T20 international career. To list out the five best knocks of his T20 international career would be a tough ask but we will try to.
Here’s a look at Virat Kohli’s top five knocks in the T20 World Cup:
5. 82 off 53 balls vs Pakistan in 2022 T20 World Cup
Virat Kohli’s knock of 82 off 53 balls against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 stole the hearts of every cricket fan across the globe. That knock will be remembered for many years to come.
In a high-voltage encounter against Pakistan, India found themselves in a spot of bother at 31 for 4 in pursuit of a 160-run target. Virat Kohli, however, like many occasions, absorbed the pressure and stitched a match-defining partnership with Hardik Pandya.
Hardik, unfortunately, got out in the final over but Kohli stayed there right till the end and took India home. He played an unbeaten knock of 82 off 53 balls at a strike rate of 154.72.
4. 89 off 47 vs West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup
2016 was undoubtedly the best year for Virat Kohli with the bat. He wreaked havoc with the bat in the 2016 T20 World Cup and became the leading run-scorer. His best knock came in the semi-final of the big ticket tournament where the run-machine smashed 89 off 47 deliveries, including 11 fours and a six.
Kohli’s classy knock propelled his team to a good-looking 192 at the end of the first innings. However, it didn’t prove enough as West Indies chased down the target with ease in the end.
This was also Virat Kohl’s highest score in a losing cause in the T20 World Cup.
3. 72 off 44 vs South Africa in the 2014 T20 World Cup
India met South Africa in the semi-final of the 2014 T20 World Cup in Dhaka. Batting first, South Africa had posted 172 runs in the first innings, thanks to brilliant knocks from Faf du Plessis and Jean-Paul Duminy.
In the second innings, Rohit Sharma gave the team a quick-fire start with his 24 off 13 but unfortunately got out in the 4th over. Virat Kohli walked to bat out at three and ensured runs kept coming thick and fast from his end.
His partners, Ajinkya Rahane and Yuvraj Singh got out at crucial stages during the chase but Virat Kohli never let the foot off the pedal. He remained unbeaten on 72 of 44 balls and guided the team home with five balls to spare.
2. 82 off 51 vs Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup
The 31st match of the 2016 T20 World Cup against Australia proved to be a virtual quarter-final of the tournament for India. Batting first, Australia had posted 160 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.
India, in reply, had lost three wickets for just 49 runs in 7.4 overs. Virat Kohli, the man in form, then pressed on the accelerator and turned the game in India’s favour, singlehandedly.
Despite the fact that the batters were struggling at the other end, Virat Kohli kept his team in the hunt and eventually chased down the total in 19.1 overs. Kohli scored a magnificent 82 off 51 deliveries, including nine fours and two sixes.
- 76 off 59 vs South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final
India’s run machine, Virat Kohli, arguably, played the best knock of his T20 international career in his final T20 international match. In the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup on Saturday, South Africa bowlers came out all guns firing against India.
India lost three wickets for 34 runs in 4.3 overs. However, Virat Kohli, who was going through a poor run of form, was still at the crease. He struggled to time the ball well but didn’t lose his wicket in that crucial stage of the game.
Kohli stitched a match-saving partnership with Axar Patel and brought India back into the game. He reached his half-century off 48 deliveries but shifted gears, thereafter.
He then hit 26 runs off just 11 balls and played a stellar knock of 76 runs in 59 balls. His knock propelled the team to 176 in 20 overs. Kohli’s knock proved pivotal in the context of the game as India won the game, eventually, by seven runs.
