When there is roar in the world for an upcoming batting sensation, even the fastest and tricky bowlers hate to face someone, one could imagine it is one and only Virat Kohli at the crease.
The Blue Shirts were struggling for their survival in the Commonwealth Bank Series 2011-12 as the performance of their star studded unit was substandard in One Day Internationals. They were left with a bleak chance to enter the finals with a win from their last encounter of the tournament against Sri Lanka and that too, in a stipulated frame of time.
The match was played on February 28, 2012, at Bellerive Oval, Hobart, where the Islanders smashed 320 runs for the loss of just four wickets aided by a splendid unbeaten knock of 160 by Tillakaratne Dilshan and 105 from the willow of Kumar Sangakkara. India was required to win the match in 40 overs which could have provided them with an invaluable bonus point as well.
India started off well but lost their experienced openers, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar at 86 in 9.2 overs when the tiger Kohli appeared in the centre with different ideas. He made his intentions clear by dispatching a four on the first ball he faced from Lasith Malinga and crept to his fifty on 44 balls.
The Blue Shirts scored 215 for the loss of three wickets at the end of the 29th over and required 106 from 66 balls to remain in the frame of contention. Kohli started punishing the bowlers at his will and Suresh Raina supported him well at the other end. He kept showering the boundaries from his wood and achieved his ninth century on the second ball of the 35th over from Lasith Malinga.
The 23-year-old butchered Malinga for 24 runs in that over which comprised one six, 4 consecutive fours and changed the complexion of the game. He dispatched the fourth ball of the 37th over to the boundary and brought home a magical victory while exercising an unforgettable unbeaten onslaught of 133 off just 86 balls with two sixes and 16 fours.
The Lankan Lions defeated Australia by nine runs in the final pool match which saw them in the finals, India was out but the heroics of Virat Kohli will be remembered for ages.
Kohli was the highest scorer for India in the tri- series, plundering 373 runs at an excellent average of 53.28, the best of which was the aforementioned knock.
Earlier the tourists were demolished by the Kangaroos and they faced a white wash 0-4 in four Test series. Their batting collapsed time and again except the one man army called ‘Virat Kohli’ who was able to resist the lethal bowling attack of the home side. He was the top scorer from India by scoring 300 runs averaging 37.50, the best of 116 with one fifty.
The brave and solid innings of Kohli in Australia were acknowledged by the Indian selectors when they announced the squad for the Asia Cup 2012 and Kohli was awarded with the assignment as a deputy to MS Dhoni. He kept his promise by thrashing 108 runs in the first match of the tournament against Sri Lanka on March 13, 2012, at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur as the Blue Shirts won the match comprehensively by 50 runs.
He emerged as the only Indian to establish back to back centuries twice, previously hammering 118 against Australia on October 20, 2010 at Visakhapatnam and 105 in the next ODI versus New Zealand on November 28, 2010 at Guwahati.
The right hand batsman became the quickest player to score 10 centuries in his 83rd ODI, whereas Tendulkar managed that in 134 innings.
Kohli was born on November 5, 1988 in Delhi, a right hand middle order batsman and occasional right arm medium fast bowler. He has played for India, India Under-19s, Delhi, India Red, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
He always believes in aggression rather than being submissive as he enters in the park with the bat. He has all the cricket book shots in his armoury and never afraid of any type of bowling at any surface. He led the nation instinctively and with aplomb in the Under-19 World Cup 2008 and lifted the cup, all due to his undying commitment to the cause.
The youngster made his debut in the ODIs against Sri Lanka on August 18, 2008, at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium and managed a meagre 12 runs, but ever since has blossomed in every format.
He has played 83 ODIs, scored 3341 runs at a super average of 48.42, with 10 hundreds and 20 fifties.
Kohli played quite a few limited over games before he was inducted in to the Indian side for the longer version of the game. He made his Test debut against West Indies on June 20, 2011, at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica as the tourists won the match by 63 runs.
The run machine has played just eight Tests, scored 491 runs averaging 32.73, the best of 116 with three fifties.
He started off in the Twenty20s on June 12, 2010 versus Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club, scored an unbeaten 26 off 21 deliveries with one six and three fours as India won that match by six wickets.
The smart player has played 8 T20s, scored 140 runs at an average of 23.33 with the best of 31 runs.
Kohli is regarded as one of the famous well dressed guy who believes in self hygiene while maintaining high standards of grooming and has been appreciated from the different fashion circles.
It is just beginning of the emergence for a future star batsman in the form of Virat Kohli, and undoubtedly he has a vast career ahead of him and time will prove that he will induct himself into the list of all time cricketing greats.
Leave a Reply