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Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli is celebrating his 38th birthday on November 5. On this special occasion, Star Sports shared a video featuring the former India captain, in which he revealed his favourite ODI innings of his career.
Interestingly, Kohli did not choose any of his famous centuries. Instead, he picked a memorable 43-run knock against England in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy final. He preferred this innings over several outstanding performances, including his famous 183-run knock against Pakistan.
Virat Kohli Reveals His Favourite ODI Innings on His 38th Birthday
To celebrate Virat Kohli's birthday, Star Sports shared a special video in which the batting superstar was asked to select his best ODI innings from a list of memorable performances.
The selection process featured two innings at a time. Kohli had to choose one performance before facing another comparison. Several of his career-defining knocks were included in this challenge.
The first comparison was between his unbeaten 133-run innings against Sri Lanka in 2012 and his 35-run knock in the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka.
Surprisingly, Kohli selected his 35-run innings from the World Cup final instead of his match-winning century.
Virat Kohli Picks 35 Runs Over His Biggest ODI Centuries
After choosing his 2011 World Cup final performance, Kohli faced comparisons with some of his biggest ODI innings.
- 85 runs against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
- 122 runs against England in 2017.
- 160 runs against South Africa in 2018.
Despite these impressive performances, Kohli continued to select his 35-run knock from the 2011 World Cup final.
However, another memorable innings eventually replaced this knock at the top of his list.
43-Run Knock Beats 183: Kohli Names His Favourite ODI Innings
In the next round, Kohli was asked to choose between his 35-run innings in the 2011 World Cup final and his 43-run knock against England in the 2013 Champions Trophy final.
The Indian batting star picked the 43-run innings.
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He was then given some of his most memorable ODI centuries as alternatives, including:
- 183 runs against Pakistan in 2012.
- 138 runs against South Africa in 2015.
- 107 runs against Pakistan in 2015.
Interestingly, Kohli rejected all three centuries and continued to select his 43-run knock against England.
Ultimately, this innings emerged as his favourite ODI performance in the special birthday video.
Why Virat Kohli Chose His 2013 Champions Trophy Final Innings
Kohli's 43-run innings came during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy final against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
India batted first in the rain-shortened final and scored 129/7 in 20 overs. Kohli contributed 43 runs off 34 balls, helping India post a competitive total.
India eventually defeated England by five runs to win the Champions Trophy. The victory made the match one of the memorable moments in Indian cricket history.
Kohli's choice highlights that an innings is not always remembered for the number of runs scored. Sometimes, the match situation, pressure and importance of the contribution make a performance more special than a century.
Virat Kohli's 38th Birthday: A Special Revelation for Cricket Fans
On his 38th birthday, Virat Kohli gave fans an interesting insight into his cricketing memories. Despite scoring numerous centuries and achieving several batting records in ODI cricket, he selected his 43-run knock from the 2013 Champions Trophy final as his favourite.
His decision shows that memorable performances cannot always be measured by individual statistics. For Kohli, the importance of the occasion and the team's victory made this innings particularly special.
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