Virat Kohli will return to action for the upcoming three-match series between India and the West Indies. The veteran batter enters the series after scoring consecutive half-centuries of 65 and 74 in his last two ODI appearances against England, adding to the expectations around his return.
Kohli has enjoyed remarkable success against the West Indies in the 50-over format. He has scored 2,261 runs in 43 ODIs against them at an average of 66.50, with nine centuries and 11 half-centuries.
Here are five of his most memorable ODI innings against the Caribbean side:
Virat Kohli’s 157* in Visakhapatnam, 2018
Virat Kohli produced one of his finest ODI innings during the second match of the 2018 series in Visakhapatnam. Kohli was named Player of the Match for his outstanding innings. He came to the crease with India at 15/1 and built the innings before shifting gears in the final overs.
He reached his century from 106 balls and then added 57 runs from just 23 deliveries. His unbeaten 157 off 129 balls included 13 fours and four sixes as India posted 321/6.
During the knock, he became the fastest batter to reach 10,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in 205 innings and surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record by 54 innings. The match ended in a tie after Shai Hope struck a boundary from the final ball of the game.
Virat Kohli’s 140 in Guwahati, 2018
Earlier in the same series, Virat Kohli delivered another dominant performance in Guwahati. West Indies posted 322/8 after batting first. India lost Shikhar Dhawan in the second over.
However, Kohli immediately put the pressure back on the visitors. He scored 140 from 107 balls at a strike rate of 130.84, hitting 21 boundaries and three sixes.
Kohli and Rohit Sharma added 246 runs for the second wicket. Their partnership took the game away from the West Indies as India chased down the target with 47 balls to spare, winning by eight wickets.
Virat Kohli’s 114* in Port of Spain, 2019
Kohli produced another masterclass during the third ODI in Port of Spain in 2019. West Indies scored 240/7 in a rain-affected innings before further interruptions reduced India’s target to 256 from 35 overs under the DLS method.
India lost Rohit Sharma in the opening over, and Kohli came to the crease early in a chase with more than seven runs per over required.
The right-hander responded with a controlled unbeaten 114 from 99 balls, including 14 boundaries, and carefully managed the required rate throughout the chase. India reached the revised target with 15 balls remaining to complete a six-wicket victory.
Virat Kohli’s 117 in Visakhapatnam, 2011
At just 23, Kohli produced an early glimpse of the chasing ability that would later become one of his biggest strengths. In the second ODI of the 2011 series, West Indies posted 269/9 on a challenging surface.
India’s chase got off to a poor start as Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir fell with only 29 runs on the board. Kohli responded by building a crucial 163-run partnership with Rohit Sharma.
He scored 117 from 123 balls, hitting 14 boundaries before being dismissed. India completed a five-wicket victory with 11 balls remaining.
Virat Kohli’s 127 in Dharamshala, 2014
India batted first during the fourth ODI against the West Indies in Dharamshala in 2014. Kohli arrived with the score at 25/1. He combined with Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina to build India’s innings before accelerating towards the end.
Kohli scored 127 from 114 balls, hitting 13 fours and three sixes as India posted 330/6. The West Indies were then bowled out for 271, giving India a 59-run victory. Kohli won the Player of the Match award for his century.
It was the final game of the tour after the West Indies team withdrew from the remaining matches because of a payment dispute with its board.
Also read: Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma appointed Delhi State mentor, Vijay Dahiya head coach
