Virat Kohli has made a surprising choice when asked to name his best ODI innings, picking his 43-run knock against England in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy final over several of his memorable centuries. In a conversation with Star Sports, Kohli, who turned 38 on Thursday, November 5, also mentioned his 35-run contribution in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka. However, he eventually chose the Champions Trophy knock as his favourite.
The innings stood out because Kohli walked in with India struggling at 66/5 in a rain-reduced 20-over match. He then shared a crucial 47-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 33, helping India reach a competitive total. India eventually defeated England by five runs to lift the trophy. Kohli rated this effort above several of his iconic ODI performances, including his unbeaten 133 against Sri Lanka in Hobart in 2012, 122 against England in 2017, 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup and 160 against South Africa in 2018.
One of India's greatest batters, Kohli has enjoyed an outstanding international career. He has scored 15,183 runs in ODIs, including a record 55 centuries, and is the second-highest run-scorer in the format. In Tests, he has scored 9,230 runs with 30 centuries and led India to 40 victories in 68 matches as captain. He has also amassed 4,188 runs in T20Is.
With multiple World Cup and Champions Trophy titles to his name, Kohli's career is marked by remarkable consistency and achievements across formats.