Virat Kohli, one of the greatest batters of his time, said goodbye to T20 Internationals after India’s big win over South Africa in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final. He ended his amazing career with 4188 runs from 125 matches, averaging 48.69, including one century and 38 half-centuries. Even though he retired from the format, Kohli finished strong, scoring a winning 76 in the final, which helped India win the T20 World Cup for the second time. Despite struggling in the tournament, Kohli proved himself again, rising to the challenge when it mattered most. He will be remembered as one of the best T20I batters. As a tribute to this great batter, who left behind a rich legacy.
Let’s look back at some of his best T20I performances over the years.
5. 122* – IND vs AFG, Asia Cup, 2022
For a while, people talked about Virat Kohli not scoring a century in T20Is. But he loves a challenge. Coming back strong, he scored a century against Afghanistan in the 11th match (Super 4) of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai.
Opening the innings, Kohli was outstanding, scoring 122 not out off 61 balls, with a strike rate of 200. He hit 12 fours and six sixes, showing he can play T20 cricket just like it’s played today
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4. 70* – IND vs WI, 3rd T20I, 2019
Virat Kohli played amazingly in the third T20I against West Indies in Mumbai. It was his fastest innings in this format, and he caused a lot of trouble for the West Indies bowlers.
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul started strong for India, and Kohli continued the momentum. He scored 70 runs not out from just 29 balls, with a strike rate of 241.37. He hit four boundaries and seven sixes in a powerful batting performance.
Thanks to Kohli’s quick scoring, India made a huge total of 240-3 and won the match by 67 runs.
3. 72* – SA vs IND, T20 World Cup semifinal, 2014
In the semifinal of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2014 in Mirpur, Dhaka, Virat Kohli played a crucial role in guiding India to the final against South Africa. India needed 173 runs to win. Despite losing their first two batsmen early, Kohli’s determined innings made the difference. He scored 72 not out from 44 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, with a high strike rate of 163. His performance helped India achieve a six-wicket victory, overcoming South Africa’s strong defense of scores over 170 for the first time.
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2. 82* – IND vs AUS, T20 World Cup, 2016
In 2016, Virat Kohli was in his best form in cricket across different types of matches. In a challenging game against Australia in the T20 World Cup in Mohali, India needed 161 runs to win. At one point, India was struggling at 94-4. But Kohli, determined to lead his team to victory, played an outstanding innings.
He scored 82 runs from 51 balls without getting out, showing why he is considered one of the best in the world, especially when chasing targets. His strike rate was 160.78, hitting nine fours and two sixes. Kohli’s performance helped India win by six wickets, securing a place in the semifinals under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
1. 82* – PAK vs IND, T20 World Cup, 2022
Virat Kohli’s performance against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup was truly amazing. He played one of the greatest innings of his career, helping India win a crucial match. Pakistan scored 159 runs, but India struggled at first, losing two wickets with only 10 runs on the board. The situation became even more difficult with four wickets down at 31 runs. However, Virat Kohli’s presence at the crease gave India hope. He partnered with Hardik Pandya to add 113 runs, keeping India in the game. With 28 runs needed from eight balls, Kohli hit two incredible sixes off Haris Rauf, turning the match in India’s favor. He remained unbeaten on 82, leading India to a remarkable victory. This unbeaten 82 off 53 balls is considered one of the best T20I innings ever, showcasing Kohli’s exceptional skill and ability to perform under pressure.
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