Anchor and aggressor: Best of Virat Kohli ODI knocks Down Under
The best-ever batter in this format has played some memorable knocks Down Under.
Atreyo Mukhopadhyay
October 13, 2025 / 19:40 IST
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Virat Kohli enjoys batting in Australia. He likes the bounce, the prospect of playing shots and the challenge. In 29 ODIs there from 2012, he tallies 1327 runs at 51.03 with five centuries. This is under his staggering career average of 57.88, but the best-ever batter in this format has played some memorable knocks Down Under. (AP Photo)
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133 no off 86 balls vs Sri Lanka, Hobart, 2012: He had been around a while when this tri-series took place. This was the first real announcement of what he was to become. In a 50-over game, India had to overhaul 320 in 40 to stay alive on net-run-rate. The openers were gone. Kohli shared a stand of 205 with Gautam Gambhir where the senior pro’s job was to rotate strike. The emerging hero demolished an attack featuring Lasith Malinga. The cricket world let out a collective ‘wow’. (AP Photo)
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107 off 126 balls vs Pakistan, Adelaide, 2015: An IND-PAK World Cup match! The occasion was huge. India needed a big total after winning the toss. Someone had to anchor the innings. A quick 50 was not what the doctor ordered. In walked Kohli in the eighth over. When he was dismissed in the 46th India had 273 on the board with enough in hand for a late charge. The total was sufficient. There were just eight fours in Kohli’s innings. A master class in adjusting according to the situation. (AFP Photo)
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106 off 92 balls vs Australia, Canberra, 2016: The requirement was different so the method had to be. After Australia amassed 348, Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan put together 212 for the second wicket in under 30 overs. Kohli had orchestrated two 350-plus chases against Australia back home two seasons ago. For a long time, he kept India in the hunt. The situation demanded he played strokes and so he did. India lost because the other nine contributed 95 runs between them. (AP Photo)
91 off 97 balls vs Australia, Perth, 2016: This was actually a lesson in playing second fiddle. The bowlers were dominated by Rohit Sharma, who made 171. Kohli, who shared a second-wicket stand of 207 with the opener, realised early that day who the boss was. So he decided that his role was going to be rotation of strike. He went for big hits only when the opportunity came. India lost despite making 309, but Kohli showed just how many gears he could operate on. (AP Photo)
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104 off 112 balls vs Australia, Adelaide, 2019: India had to win to stay in the three-match series. Australia’s 298 was the highest total until then and remained the second highest of the series eventually. The openers failed to convert starts and so did Ambati Rayudu at No. 4. Kohli built the innings brick by brick and did not play shots unless he wanted to. Just 32 of his runs came in boundaries. He ran the opponents crazy. This was the greatest-ever chase master in full bloom. (AFP Photo)
