Virat Kohli has earned a reputation for his remarkable run-chase performances for India across all formats over the past 15 years. A standout moment came during the 2012 Tri-Nation Series in Australia, when Kohli took control against Sri Lanka and led India to a seven-wicket win at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
India required 321 runs to win, with the added pressure of completing the chase in 40 overs to stay in contention for the final. Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar gave India a solid start, putting up 54 runs for the first wicket in 6.2 overs. Kohli walked in after Lasith Malinga removed Tendulkar, leaving India at 86 for two in 9.2 overs.
From that point, Kohli took control of the innings, remaining unbeaten and guiding India to successfully chase down the challenging target of 321 in just 36.4 overs. He reached his half-century off 44 balls and then accelerated, bringing up his century off 76 balls.
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Kohli’s brilliant 133* Leads India to victory as Dhoni hails exceptional start
Virat Kohli ultimately scored 133 runs off 86 balls, including 16 fours and two sixes. After the match, then-captain MS Dhoni remarked that the target seemed like a steep challenge, but the Indian batsmen made it achievable with an exceptional start.
“This was some of the best ODI cricket I have been a part of. When you need 321 off 40, you need a good start. You need the quantity, but the quality … We wanted to keep them down to 250, maximum 270.”
”We knew we had the firepower, but still 320 was more than we could digest. But once we got that start, we knew we could kick on,” Dhoni had said during the post-match presentation ceremony.
Thirteen years later, Kohli still holds the record for the most runs in successful run chases in ODIs. In 105 matches, the right-handed batsman has accumulated 5,913 runs at an average of 89.59, including 24 centuries and 25 fifties. His latest century in a chase was scored against Pakistan on February 23, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
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