Virat Kohli's 3 best white-ball knocks in the West Indies
Senior Team India batter Virat Kohli had a forgettable time in the group stage of the ICC Men's 2024 T20 World Cup. Even as the Men in Blue cruised into the Super 8 stage with three wins in their first three matches, Kohli only managed a total of five runs in these games.
The 35-year-old was dismissed for 1 against Ireland, top-edging one from Mark Adair to deep third man. In the big game against Pakistan, he was out for 4, slapping a delivery from Naseem Shah to cover point. The right-handed batter registered another failure against co-hosts United States. He was back in the hut for a golden duck, nicking an inviting delivery outside off from Saurabh Netravalkar.
All the above-mentioned three matches were played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. The Men in Blue will, however, play their Super 8 matches in the West Indies, where Kohli has tasted plenty of success, particularly in the one-day format.
On that note, let's revisit three of his best white-ball knocks in the West Indies.
#3 (111* off 115) - 5th ODI, Kingston, July 2017
Among Kohli's many tons in chases, the right-handed batter struck 111* off 115 in the fifth ODI of the five-match series against the West Indies in July 2017. The Men in Blue were set to chase 206 and got home by eight wickets, with 79 balls to spare, courtesy of another Kohli special.
Leading the team, the star batter struck 12 fours and two sixes in his innings. India lost Shikhar Dhawan for 5 in the chase after which Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane (39 off 51) added 79 for the second wicket. Following Rahane's dismissal, the-then Indian captain was involved in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 122 with Dinesh Karthik (50* off 52).
Kohli reached his half-century off 67 balls by hammering Ashley Nurse to the deep extra cover boundary. He reached three figures, his 28th ODI ton, by clipping a half-volley from Kesrick Williams between mid-on and midwicket for a boundary. The right-hander brought up the win for Team India in style, whipping a flighted delivery from Roston Chase over long-on for a maximum.
#2 (102 off 83) - West Indies Tri-Nation Series, 4th match, Port of Spain, July 2013
Kohli slammed 102 off 83 balls against the West Indies in Port of Spain in the fourth match of a tri-series in 2013, which also featured Sri Lanka. The No. 3 batter smacked 13 fours and two sixes in his 120-minute stay as the Men in Blue posted 311-7 after being sent into bat.
India got off to a solid start as Rohit Sharma (46) and Dhawan (69) added 123 for the opening wicket. Kohli consolidated on the same and led Team India past the 310-run mark. The Men in Blue batter reached a sedate half-century in the 43rd over with a single off Tino Best.
Kohli opened up towards the end of the Indian innings, racing towards yet another hundred. He began the 48th over with a back-foot drive off Dwayne Bravo, which was lofted over extra cover for a maximum. He slammed Kemar Roach for two fours in the penultimate over. Kohli was out off the last ball of the innings, trying to go after Bravo.
Chasing a revised target of 274 in 39 overs, the Windies were bundled out for 171 in 34 overs as pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav claimed three wickets each.
#1 (114* off 99 balls) - 3rd ODI, Port of Spain, August 2019
Kohli hit yet another wonderful hundred in a chase as India beat the West Indies by six wickets in Port of Spain in the third ODI of the three-match series in 2019. Set to chase a DLS target of 255 in 35 overs, the Men in Blue got home in 32.3 overs courtesy of Kohli.
Leading the team, the right-handed batter slammed an unbeaten 114 off 99 balls. His 127-minute stay at the crease saw him hit 14 fours as India cruised to victory and clinched the series 2-0.
Rohit was run out for 10 in the chase, but Kohli and Dhawan (36) added 66 for the second wicket. Rishabh Pant fell for a golden duck, but Kohli and Shreyas Iyer (65 off 41) paved the way for India's win, featuring in a 120-run stand.
Kohli looked in good touch from the start of his innings and eased to his fifty off 48 balls. In the 22nd over, he hammered Jason Holder for consecutive fours. After slamming Roach for two fours in the 31st over, Kohli reached his hundred with a single flicked towards deep midwicket. He brought up the victory in style, smacking Caros Brathwaite for consecutive boundaries.