Virat Kohli is unarguably India’s most accomplished T20I batter. He has long been India’s best all-format batter. But there were concerns regarding his form in the past couple of years. He wasn’t able to produce great knocks consistently despite looking in good touch. But India clearly needed him to fire in the T20 World Cup. Let us look at Virat Kohli’s Top T20 World Cup Knocks in detail.
In a team comprising hitters, Kohli was to play the role of both anchor and aggressor. He produced a gem of an innings in the side’s first outing in T20 World Cup 2022. Kohli, it looked as if he had turned back the clock. He has delivered on more occasions than one.
We rank Virat Kohli’s Top T20 World Cup Knocks:
#5 55* vs Pakistan, 2016
It was a high-voltage encounter between the arch-rivals. The game eerily bore a similar look to that of the Asia Cup game played between them earlier. Pakistan could just post a moderate score in a rain-affected game. But India floundered early in the run-chase. It was Kohli who drove India’s reply. He scored a fine 55 not out of 37 balls to help India win a crucial game.
#4 89* vs West Indies, 2016
India wouldn’t have qualified for the semis had it not been for Kohli’s genius in the tournament earlier. Nobody expected him to deliver once again in the semis. But he did just that. Kohli literally raced his way to 47 balls 89. He scampered across for ones and twos in a muggy evening in Mumbai. Kohli scored 50 runs in boundaries and 39 of his runs came in singles and twos. It eventually didn’t prove to be enough.
#3 72* vs South Africa, 2014
In the slow and low wickets of Bangladesh, India had a daunting total to overcome in the 2014 T20 World Cup semifinal. Wickets kept falling at the other end, but Kohli held up one end together. He put on a batting masterclass on how to ace a run chase. Against a strong South African, Kohli powered his way through to 44 balls 72. He helped India reach the World Cup finals, only for the second time since they last won in 2007.
#2 82* vs Australia, 2016
India had to defeat Australia in what was a virtual quarter-final in 2016. Aussies got off to a great start batting first. India though restricted them to a par score. In reply, India didn’t have the best of starts. They lost both the openers and Suresh Raina early. Yuvraj Singh limped but couldn’t contribute substantially.
The onus was once again on Virat Kohli’s shoulders. He found an able ally in MS Dhoni. The duo put on a show in terms of converting ones into twos. Kohli was left exhausted at the end after taking his team over the line one more time.
#1 82* vs Pakistan, 2022
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Kohli won the player of the tournament award in 2016. It had become increasingly difficult for Kohli considering the chaos surrounding him off the field too. He seemed to have silenced most of his critics with a maiden T20 century in the Asia Cup 2022. But a man of his stature needed a stage like the World Cup to bring the best out of him.
In the opening game against Pakistan, India had almost hit a position of no return. Kohli produced magical innings on an unforgettable evening in one of cricket’s most memorable theatres, the MCG. It has to be his finest and one of the best T20I innings of all time.
