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Happy Birthday Virat Kohli: 5 underrated innings from Indian captain that you need to relive

Currently, Virat Kohli is in the UAE and leading team India in T20 World Cup 2021. The Indian captain has achieved great success at such young age, compared to the batting greats Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting and many more.

Published

5 years ago

November 5, 2021

Team India captain Virat Kohli has turned 33 today on November 5. He is known for his power-packed performance on the pitch and witty replies. In the past 10-12 years Kohli has been one of the best batsmen in World cricket. Since his debut for India, no cricketer has made more international runs than India’s run machine. Till now Kohli has played a total of 96 tests, 254 ODIs and 93 T20Is and scored more than 23,000 runs including 70 international centuries.

Kohli has achieved many records and trophies for the team. Currently, Kohli is in the UAE and leading team India in T20 World Cup 2021. The Indian captain has achieved great success at such young age, compared to the batting greats Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting and many more. Kohli has various records on his name, but today on his birthday, let’s have a look at some of his underrated knocks that helped team in crunch situations.

1. 118 vs Australia at Visakhapatnam, 2010

This innings marked the beginning of Virat Kohli’s era in the cricketing world. In the second ODI in the India-Australia ODI series, Australia posted a huge total of 289 runs on a bowers friendly wicket and it was difficult for Indian batters to chase the target. Coming at no. 3 Virat Kohli not only scored his hundred but also made sure India to win the match. He added some valuable partnerships with Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina. He scored his third ODI hundred (118) in 121 balls. India went on to win the match with 7 balls remaining.

2. 43 against England in ICC Champions Trophy 2013 Final

This was one of the best innings by Kohli in the 2013 Champions Trophy Final. The rain-affected match was reduced to 20 overs a side and batting first India needed to put a decent total for the fight. Kohli scored an important 43 runs when team India was struggling at 66-4, with the help of his innings team India posted a respected total of 129 runs on board and went on to win the trophy.

3. 35 against Sri Lanka in 2011 World Cup final

Kohli was just 22-year old when he was playing his first world cup final. Team India was struggling at 31-2, losing Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Sri Lanka pace master Lasith Malinga was firing unplayable Yorkers. But it was Virat Kohli, who came to bat at no. 4 and made an important partnership with Gautam Gambhir. He scored just 35 runs, but it was enough to keep the Sri Lankans away from the prestigious trophy.

4. 79* against West Indies at Johannesburg, 2009

Team India performed below their expectations in 2009 Champions Trophy in South Africa. But it was pretty special for young Virat Kohli, as Kohli was playing his first ICC tournament. India in their last league match against West Indies played on a very tricky pitch. After restricting the Windies to 129, India lost their first two wickets at 12, but it was Virat Kohli who stood up and won the match for team India with his match-winning knock of unbeaten 79 runs.

5. 54 against South Africa, 2011

MS Dhoni-led team India went on South Africa tour in 2011, just before the World Cup. India faced a humiliating defeat of 135 runs in their first match against the Proteas. In that match, Kohli was the top scorer for the team with 54 runs in 70 balls. However, India lost the match but this knock of Kohli remains underrated.

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Cricket news

India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to win Asian Games cricket gold

India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final to retain the gold medal in the competition.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 3, 2026

APNLive Desk

India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s cricket final at the Asian Games 2026 on Saturday to retain the gold medal.

India posted 211 for six after being sent in to bat, before restricting Pakistan to 192 for six in their 20 overs. The victory gave India their second successive Asian Games gold medal in men’s cricket.

India post 211 in final

India’s batting was led by Abhishek Sharma, who scored 61 off 28 balls, while Tilak Varma contributed 51 off 22 balls.

The two batters provided the momentum as India reached 211 for six from their 20 overs.

India captain Shreyas Iyer had won the toss and elected to bat first in the final.

Pakistan fall 19 runs short

Pakistan’s chase was anchored by Hasan Nawaz, who made 96 from 51 balls. Saim Ayub added 29 from 22 balls, but Pakistan finished on 192 for six after 20 overs.

India’s Axar Patel and Washington Sundar each took two wickets as Pakistan fell short of the target.

The result secured the gold medal for India, while Pakistan finished with silver. Sri Lanka won the bronze medal after defeating Bangladesh in the bronze-medal match.

India retain Asian Games cricket title

The victory marked India’s second consecutive men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games. India had also won the men’s cricket gold at the Hangzhou edition.

India’s victory over Pakistan also completed a gold-medal double for the country in cricket at the 2026 Asian Games, after the women’s team won the women’s cricket final earlier in the competition.

Cricket news

Jasprit Bumrah becomes first Indian to play T20Is in 13 countries

Jasprit Bumrah became the first Indian to play T20I cricket in 13 different countries after featuring against Sri Lanka in Japan.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

APNLive Desk

Jasprit Bumrah added another milestone to his international career on Thursday after taking the field for India against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket semifinal in Japan.

Bumrah’s appearance at Nishin made him the first Indian to play T20I cricket in 13 different countries, according to the report. He moved ahead of former India captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have each played T20Is in 12 countries.

Bumrah’s 13-country T20I record

Before playing in Japan, Bumrah had represented India in T20Is in 12 other countries — India, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the United States, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

His appearance in Japan took the tally to 13. Kohli, Rohit and Bhuvneshwar had played in all of those countries except Japan, leaving Bumrah alone at the top of the list.

Kohli and Rohit cannot add to their totals as both have retired from T20I cricket, according to the source.

Bumrah shines against Sri Lanka

Bumrah also made an immediate impact in his first T20I appearance in Japan. He claimed two wickets in his opening over against Sri Lanka and finished with figures of 2/7 in two overs.

India went on to dismiss Sri Lanka for 45 in 9.5 overs and won the semifinal by 124 runs to book a place in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final.

The result set up an India-Pakistan gold-medal clash, scheduled for October 3.

Jasprit Bumrah has become the first Indian to play T20I cricket in 13 different countries. His appearance against Sri Lanka in Japan took him past Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have played T20Is in 12 countries each.

Cricket news

India beat West Indies by 8 wickets, Gill hits record 223

Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 223 and Rohit Sharma’s 101 helped India chase 406 against West Indies and win the second ODI by eight wickets in Guwahati.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

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India produced a remarkable batting performance to defeat West Indies by eight wickets in the second ODI in Guwahati, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

West Indies posted 405 for 7 in their 50 overs after centuries from John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo. India then produced an emphatic response, reaching 406 for 2 in just 43.3 overs.

Shubman Gill led the chase with an unbeaten 223, while Rohit Sharma provided strong support with a century.

Gill’s record-breaking double century

Gill remained unbeaten on 223 from 133 balls and completed his double century in 117 deliveries.

His innings made him the first batter to score an ODI double century in 117 balls, according to the report. His unbeaten 223 was also recorded as the highest ODI score by an Indian captain and the highest score by an Indian in an ODI chase.

Gill’s innings contained a combination of boundaries and sustained attacking batting as India comfortably reached the target set by West Indies.

Rohit Sharma scores 101

Rohit Sharma also produced a century during India’s chase, scoring 101 from 75 balls.

The innings also saw Rohit reach the milestone of 12,000 ODI runs. He became the third Indian batter to reach the landmark after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli contributed 29 runs before being dismissed during the chase.

West Indies post 405

Earlier, West Indies put up a huge total of 405 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs.

John Campbell scored 101, while Shai Hope made 104. Amir Jangoo also struck a century, scoring 114.

Despite the three centuries, West Indies could not defend the total as India’s top order produced a dominant chase.

India take 2-0 series lead

India completed the chase in 43.3 overs, finishing on 406 for 2 and securing an eight-wicket victory.

The result gives India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, with the second match producing a record-breaking individual performance from captain Shubman Gill.