“You can say it is my best T20 innings” - When Virat Kohli played a magical knock in 2014 T20 World Cup semifinal
After helping India prevail over South Africa in the 2014 T20 World Cup semifinal, Virat Kohli labeled it as his best knock in the shortest format. The game saw Kohli remain unbeaten on 72 off 44 to finish the chase with five balls to spare in Mirpur.
The Proteas batted first in the contest and posted a formidable total of 172, with Faf du Plessis (58) as the top run-scorer. Ravichandran Ashwin spun web around the opposition with three scalps.
In response, Ajinkya Rahane (32) and Rohit Sharma (24) provided a steady start to the Men in Blue. Although Kohli started on a precautionary note, he garnered rhythm with a first boundary on his 17th ball. He stitched together a crucial 56-run stand with Yuvraj Singh (18) to keep the team in good stead.
Thereafter, Kohli attacked the right bowlers and completed the chase easily for India. As per him, the opposition's quality bowling attack and the importance of the game made this knock special. He said:
"Depending on the importance of the match, yes, you can say it is my best T20 innings. But I have struck the ball better in T20s in other games. I have also timed the ball better than I did today and have managed to score five or six boundaries very fast. Today it was difficult as I had to work hard for the knock. But as per the importance of the game, this knock tops it." [H/t ESPNcricinfo]
Interestingly, this game saw MS Dhoni play out a dot on the last ball of the penultimate over to allow Kohli to finish off the chase.
How did Virat Kohli fare in T20 World Cups?
Making his first appearance in the 2012 edition, Virat Kohli has amassed 1,292 runs in 35 T20 World Cup games at a prolific average of 58.72, with 15 fifties. His finest knock of 89* off 47 came against West Indies in the semifinal of the 2016 edition.
Notably, Kohli ended as the highest run-scorer in the 2014 and 2022 T20 World Cups. The latter edition saw him play a famous knock of 82* off 53 against Pakistan in Melbourne.
Earlier this year, the 35-year-old helped India secure a title victory in the T20 World Cup by slamming 76 against South Africa in the final. He then announced his retirement from the shortest format.
Virat Kohli amassed 4,188 runs in 125 T20Is at an average of 48.69 with 38 fifties to his name. He stands second on the list of top run-scorers in the T20I format.