The Team India captain, Virat Kohli had a phenomenal run in the year 2017. He scored 2818 runs in 46 matches with an average of 61.2. He played match-winning knocks during all formats and created many records. Kohli surpassed Ponting record of most centuries in One-day internationals, also most double centuries.
Virat Kohli played many match winning knocks during this year in international cricket which had a great impact on the match and made sure team India won the matches. Virat Kohli ended the year at the top spot of ODI and T20I rankings. He ended 2017 as the top-ranked batsmen in ODI cricket with 1460 runs in 26 matches with 6 centuries and 7 half centuries at an average of 76.84.
He played 10 T20I matches for India scoring 299 runs at an average of 37.37 with the best score of 82 and also finished 5th in top run-getters.
After his 243 runs knock in a third test match at Delhi, Kohli ended the year as the 2nd ranked batsmen rankings. In the 10 matches he played, the Indian captain scored 1059 runs (16 innings) with an average of 75.64 and finished 4th in top run-getters.
With more testing tours in 2018 overseas, Virat Kohli and Indian fans would be hoping to continue their same form against top quality bowling attack.
Here we look at the top 8 innings of Virat Kohli in the year 2017:-
- 122 against England in Pune (ODI)
Virat Kohli was named as the captain of Indian ODI team after MS Dhoni resigned from captaincy. India and England faced each other in the first match of ODI series at MCA Stadium, Pune on 15th January 2017. Kohli won the toss and invited England to bat. It was an amazing batting display by England batsmen to post a massive total of 350 for 7.
Chasing 351, Virat Kohli came early in the fall of KL Rahul wicket. He looked positive from the start. India was struggling 63 for 4. Kohli and Kedar Jadhav put on pressure on England bowlers by playing aggressive strokes. The Indian captain Kohli took 44 balls to complete his 50. After that, Kohli continued to take on England bowlers and reached his 100 in 93 balls. His innings came to an end on 122 off 105 balls with 8 fours and 5 sixes. India won that match by 3 wickets with 11 balls spare.
- 96 against Bangladesh in Edgbaston (ODI)
Virat Kohli produced a dominant display in the semi-finals of Champions Trophy played at Edgbaston on 15th June 2017. India invited Bangladesh into bat and bowlers did a fine job restricting Bangladesh to just 264 for 7. Chasing the target of 265, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma added 87 runs in 14.4 overs.
Virat Kohli looked in brilliant touch right from the start and punished the Bangladesh bowling reaching his half-century off 42 balls. The captain along with Rohit Sharma added unbeaten 178 runs for the second wicket. Kohli remained not out on 96 in 78 balls with 13 fours. India won the match by 9 wickets with 59 balls and helped team India reached the finals of ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
- 81 against Pakistan (ODI)
In their first league match of Champions Trophy 2017 played at Edgbaston on 4th June, India took Pakistan. Pakistan won the toss and invited India into bat. The opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put on 136 runs for the first wicket. Kohli coming at number 3, took time to settle. The Indian captain completed his fifty off 58 balls and then smashed Pakistani bowlers to all parts of the ground. In the last 10 balls, Kohli smashed 31 runs which helped India post a massive total of 319 in 41 overs. In that knock, the Indian captain hit 6 fours and 3 sixes.
Team India won the match by 124 runs. Yuvraj Singh was named as the man of the match.
- 111 against West Indies (ODI)
India toured West Indies for five-match ODI series in June- July this year. Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, Team India went into the last one with a shocking loss in the fourth ODI. The last ODI was played at Sabina Park, Jamaica on 6th July 2017.
West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and elected to bat. Only Shai Hope and Kyle Hope could contribute which led hosts to post a below-par total of 205 for 9. Chasing the target of 206, India lost an early wicket of Shikhar Dhawan. Virat Kohli looked in fine touch with positive intent. He showed his class and helped team India to win another match while chasing. His innings of 111 not out in 115 balls with 12 fours and 2 sixes. Men in Blue seal the match by 8 wickets. Virat Kohli was named the man of the match.
- 131 against Sri Lanka (ODI)
Virat Kohli produced another captain’s knock in the fourth match of ODI series played at Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 31st August 2017. India lost an early wicket of Shikhar Dhawan. Virat Kohli looked in superb form by timing the ball and put the pressure on the Sri Lankan bowling. Both Kohli and Rohit Sharma put on 219 runs for the second wicket. Indian captain reached his 29th ODI century. He made 131 off 96 balls with 17 fours and 2 sixes. Team India posted a massive total of 375 for 5 in 50 overs. It was an easy win for the visitors as they won by a huge margin of 168 runs.
- 113 against New Zealand (ODI)
The Indian captain showed his class again in the deciding match against New Zealand played at Green Park, Kanpur on 29th October 2017. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and invited India into bat. Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed for 14 runs at the score of 29 runs. Virat Kohli captain looked in great touch and with Rohit Sharma smashed the New Zealand bowling to all parts of the ground. Kohli scored his 32nd century in ODI cricket to go past Ricky Pointing record.
His partnership with Rohit Sharma off 230 runs for the second wicket helped team India post a competitive total of 337 for 6. Kohli was dismissed for 113 off 116 balls with 9 fours and 1 six. Men in Blue won the match by 6 runs to win series 2-1. The Indian captain was named as the man of series.
- 213 against Sri Lanka (Test)
Virat Kohli played another captain knock in the second test match against Sri Lanka at Nagpur that started on 24th November. Team India dismissed Sri Lanka for a paltry total of 205. Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay added 209 runs for the second wicket. Kohli came to the crease and played with positive intent smashing the Sri Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground. He reached his 5th double century and was finally dismissed for 213 off 267 balls with 17 fours and 2 sixes. India declared their innings on 610 for 6.
India won that match by an innings and 239 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Virat Kohli was named as the man of the match for his double century.
- 243 against Sri Lanka (Test)
Virat Kohli again showed his class with the bat in the 3rd test match played at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi from 2nd December. Indian captain Kohli won the toss and batted first. Shikhar Dhawan and Pujara were dismissed cheaply. Kohli played with positive intent, remaining 156* on the first day. He reached his 6th double century. The Indian captain was finally dismissed for 243 off 267 balls with 25 boundaries. India declared their innings on 536 for 7.
The third and final test match ended in a draw with only 2 wickets on the final day. Virat Kohli was named as the man of the match and also the series.