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10 years of Kohli’s International Career: 10 of his most significant match-winning performances

It’s hard to pick a handful of innings for a batsman who already has 58 international hundreds and dozens of match-winning knocks. However, this list also includes some performances which don’t include a fifty, let alone a hundred. The innings included in this list consist of only match-winning knocks in big tournaments, in adverse conditions and near-impossible situations.


#1 107 vs Sri Lanka - 4th ODI at Kolkata - 2009

It was a cold Christmas eve. Despite one of the stands being constructed, Eden Gardens was packed as usual. India were chasing 316, and lost both Sachin and Sehwag with the team score at 23. While the team could rely on Gautam Gambhir, India was still in search of another middle-order mainstay during a transition period.

Kohli celebrating his first ODI century vs Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 24 December 2009.
Kohli celebrating his first ODI century vs Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 24 December 2009.

Both Delhi boys - Gambhir and Kohli - played their natural shots and put on a majestic 220-run partnership. This was Virat Kohli’s first international century and the beginning of a golden era for Indian cricket. India went on to win the match and seal the series, and completed a rare full year of not losing any kind of tournament to Sri Lanka. 

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