Virat Kohli turns 31: Indian captain's best T20I innings so far

Team India captain Virat Kohli has scored 2,450 runs in T20 internationals and is second on the list of all-time leading run-scorers in the format. He was also adjudged ‘Player of the series’ in 2014 and 2016 ICC World T20 tournaments. As fans celebrate 31st birthday of the cricketer, we take a look at some of the most memorable knocks played by Virat Kohli in the shortest format of the game.

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Here, we take a look at some of the best T20I knocks played by the Indian captain.

82* vs Australia, ICC World Twenty20 2016, Mohali

India were hosting the World Twenty20 for the first time in the country. In a virtual quarter-final game against Australia, Team India were chasing a stiff 161 in a must-win encounter. At one stage, the MS Dhoni-led side was left to require 59 to win from the final five overs. Kohli switched gears and smashed a flurry of boundaries against the Aussie pacers on his way to an unbeaten 82 from 51 balls.

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55* vs Pakistan, ICC World Twenty20 2016, Kolkata

Earlier in the same tournament, Team India faced Pakistan at the Eden Gardens. The ‘Men in Blue’ were left to chase 119 in a rain-affected 18-overs match. After being reduced to 23-3 in five overs, Kohli then joined forces with Yuvraj Singh to play a match-winning innings of 55. His knock came from just 37 balls in front of a packed Eden Gardens crowd.

49 vs Pakistan, Asia Cup T20 2016, Dhaka

What was about to become a completely one-sided affair turned out to be a classic India-Pakistan encounter. Team India, chasing a paltry 84 for victory, got off to a nightmarish start. A young Mohammad Amir fired all cylinders to leave the ‘Men in Blue’ tottering at 8-3 in his opening spell. Virat Kohli then formed a crucial partnership with stalwart Yuvraj Singh and played one of his all-time best T20 innings. Kohli scored 49 runs from 51 balls before he was wrongly adjudged LBW at the brink of an Indian win.

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90* vs Australia, First T20I 2016, Adelaide

The Indian team toured Australia for a limited-overs series in 2016. The visitors won the T20I series 3-0 to register a rare whitewash ‘Down Under’. Riding on Kohli’s unbeaten 90, India batted first and posted 188-3 in 20 overs. India went on to take a 1-0 lead while Kohli was adjudged ‘Man of the Match’ for his performance.

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