There was a time when Virat Kohli was still establishing himself as India’s dependable No. 3 in ODI cricket. His talent was never in doubt, but the ability to take responsibility in high-pressure chases
was something he was still developing. That changed massively in Hobart on February 28, 2012, when he produced one of the finest innings of his international career against Sri Lanka.
India had been set a target of 321 at the Bellerive Oval, but the challenge was bigger than simply getting the total. To collect a crucial bonus point and remain in contention for the Commonwealth Bank tri-series final, India had to complete the chase within 40 overs. It was a difficult equation, especially against a Sri Lankan attack led by Lasith Malinga.
Sri Lanka had put themselves in a commanding position after Tillakaratne Dilshan scored an unbeaten 160 and Kumar Sangakkara made 105. Their partnership of 200 for the second wicket helped the visitors post 320/4 in 50 overs. India responded aggressively as Virender Sehwag scored 30 from 16 balls, while Sachin Tendulkar added 39 from 30. When Tendulkar fell at 86/2 in the 10th over, Kohli joined Gautam Gambhir with the required run rate still hovering around eight.
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How Virat Kohli took apart Lasith Malinga to pull off a famous chase in Hobart
Rather than going into an all-out attack, Kohli built his innings around timing, placement and sharp running between the wickets. He and Gambhir put together 115 runs for the third wicket, with the latter scoring 63 off 64 deliveries. Once Gambhir was run out for 201, Kohli had already taken charge of the chase.
The defining passage came against Malinga as the Sri Lankan fast bowler had built a reputation as one of the most difficult bowlers to score against in limited-overs cricket, but Kohli took him apart. He smashed 24 runs in the pacer’s seventh over, including four boundaries and a six to put India firmly in control.
Kohli’s Greatest?
#OnThisDay In 2012, @imVkohli scored 133* (86) in a must win match with a healthy run rate, India chased the target of 321 in 36.4 overs against Sri Lanka at Hobart.
Kohli against Malinga
4 4 1 0 1 1 2 6 4 4 4 4 1 4 4 = 44 off 15https://t.co/3cpYx5JX1z
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) February 28, 2020
Kohli finished unbeaten on 133 from 86 balls, including 16 fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 154.65. His partnership with Suresh Raina was equally important, producing an unbroken 120-run stand. Raina scored 40 from just 24 balls as India reached 321/3 in 36.4 overs, winning by seven wickets with 20 balls to spare before the 40-over deadline.
The innings was more than a spectacular century. It showed Kohli’s ability to understand a difficult equation, build a partnership and then accelerate when the opportunity arrived. At 23, he had delivered a performance that offered an early glimpse of the remarkable ODI chaser he would become and this knock changed the mindset of Indian cricket going forward.
