43 runs in a full century! Virat Kohli’s unexpected pick for his best ever ODI innings

Virat Kohli made an unexpected choice when reflecting on his best ODI innings as he put up 43 runs against England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 final over several of his more celebrated centuries in the format.The former India captain, who turned 38 on Thursday, was featured in a video shared by Star Sports in which he was asked to pick his greatest ODI innings. The interaction came a day after he produced an impressive 74 off just 51 balls against New Zealand.Kohli’s selection has thrown up a few surprises, with the batsman repeatedly favoring innings that might not immediately spring to mind when you think of his most memorable performances.His first pick was his 35-run contribution in the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka. He preferred to knock down his unbeaten 133 against Sri Lanka in Hobart in 2012 when India chased down a target of 321 in just 40 overs. He also overlooked his 85 against Australia in the 2023 World Cup opener, an innings played when India were struggling for 2/3 while chasing 199.Kohli continued to support his World Cup final contribution when compared to his 122 runs against England in 2017. The century came during a tough chase of 351, with India reduced to 63/4. His unbeaten 160 against South Africa in Cape Town in 2018, where he took 100 runs between the wickets, also failed to make the cut.However, when asked to choose between his 35 in the 2011 World Cup final and his 2013 Champions Trophy final performance against England, Kohli ultimately chose the latter.The 43-run innings came in a rain-affected contest reduced to 20 overs, with India in trouble at 66/5. Kohli joined forces with Ravindra Jadeja to put together a valuable partnership of 47 runs, while Jadeja contributed an important 33. India eventually clinched the title with a five-run win.Kohli’s final selection also came at the expense of some exceptional centuries. These included his 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup while chasing 330, his 138 against South Africa in Chennai in 2015 and his 107 against Pakistan in the 2015 ODI World Cup. The latter was particularly significant as it made him the first Indian batsman to score a century in a World Cup against Pakistan.

Virat Kohli’s Remarkable International Career

Kohli has built an extraordinary collection of achievements throughout his international career. His trophy cabinet includes ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, two Champions Trophy titles and two Indian Premier League (IPL) trophies. He is also India’s most successful Test captain, having led the team to 40 wins in 68 matches and 17 defeats.In Test cricket, Kohli has amassed 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85. His tally includes 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, making him India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format.His numbers in ODIs are equally remarkable. Kohli is the second highest run-getter in the history of the format with 15,183 runs from 318 matches and 306 innings at an average of 58.84. He registered 55 centuries, a record in ODI cricket, along with 80 fifties.In T20 Internationals, he scored 4,188 runs in 125 innings at an average of 48.69, including one century and 38 half-centuries. He ranks third on the all-time hit list in the format.Across all three formats, Kohli has amassed 28,601 international runs in 566 matches and 633 innings at an average of 52.86. His total includes 86 centuries and 149 half-centuries, with his highest individual score being an unbeaten 254.