5 most memorable innings from Virat Kohli

A great player is one who brings out his best when the chips are down, who fights in difficult conditions and wins you matches when the team is under severe pressure. A player who does this most often in the present era is Virat Kohli. Many experts have started considering him a "legend" and rightly so, given the impact that he has had on Indian victories recently. He is one of the biggest match-winners that India has ever produced.

He is just 29 and has many records under his belt. With many years of cricket still left in him, don't be surprised if he finishes his career with some of the most astonishing records even breaking few of Sachin Tendulkar's records, which many thought would have remain untouched once upon a time.

Let's go down the memory lane and look at some of the most memorable innings from King Kohli.

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#1 149 against England, Edgbaston, 2018

Whenever Kohli's career is analysed, 2014 will have a significant importance. The English summer in 2014 seems to be the only tour when the champion batsman failed miserably. Come the 2018 English summer and Kohli wanted to put the last jigsaw piece of his fairy-tale in place. Edgbaston was the venue to witness a marvelous innings full of character from Kohli.

India was on the back-foot at 100 for 5 after having dismissed England for just 287. Kohli not only lead India's resurgence but played an innings which will be remembered for a very long time. The last two pairs added a valuable 92 runs and Kohli had set up a thrilling finish in the first Test of the long series. Kohli made another fighting half century in the second innings but no support from others meant India fell short by 31 runs. But England's 1000th Test will always be remembered for a competitive and exciting Test match and Kohli's brilliance.

#2 141 against Australia, Adelaide, 2014

Kohli is distraught after his dismissal

Batting fourth on the last day of a test match is not everyone's cup of tea. To add on this, Nathan Lyon was spinning the ball drastically at Adelaide. Moreover, Kohli had the added responsibility of leading the team and was brave enough to go for a target of 364 on Day 5. Under such circumstances and with many questions to answer about his technique which was totally exposed against the moving ball in England, he allowed his bat to do the talking and played one of the finest Test knocks you will ever see after having already scored a century in the first innings.

It would have been even more special if his innings was good enough for an Indian win but the middle order couldn't resist the might of Lyon and pressure. After Murali Vijay stitched a brilliant partnership with Kohli, no one supported the captain. India's hope for the victory was shattered when Kohli miscued a pull of Lyon. Eventually Kohli sweep-studded masterclass went in vain as Aussie won by 48 runs.

#3 133* against Sri Lanka, Hobart, 2012

Kohli was all pumped up after his special knock handed India a famous victory

300 has become a cake-walk nowadays. But it wasn't that easy six years before. And if someone tells you India chased it down in 36.4 overs in 2012, you would think that he is kidding. India was playing Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Tri-Series that also included Australia. To stay alive, India needed to win with a bonus point.

Sri Lanka gave India a target of 321 in effectively 40 overs. It looked like an improbable task and almost everyone conceived an Australia-Sri Lanka final. But little did anybody know that Kohli would play a 'coming-of-age' innings. Thanks to Kohli's breathtaking gem and support from others, India raced to the target in just 36.4 overs. The best death bowler of that time, Lasith Malinga took the hammering and was smashed by Kohli to all parts. This inning made Kohli a star and it is hand's down my most favorite Kohli innings in ODIs.

#4 100* against Australia, Jaipur, 2013

Kohli made a mockery of Aussie bowlers with some breathtaking shots all round the park (Courtesy - IBNLive)

Kohli's love affair with the Aussies is undeniable. He has played many memorable knocks against them. One of them came at Sawai ManSingh in the high scoring home series in 2013. Australia made 359 runs and India had a daunting task in front of them. Even though Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma gave India a tremendous start, the team still needed 186 runs in 23.5 overs. What followed was boundary-studded carnage from Kohli and Rohit henceforth.

From the way Kohli batted, it appeared as if he had been in the nets throughout the day. During the course of his 52-ball hundred, the fastest century by an Indian, he played some of the most remarkable shots. I can still recall a six he hit off Shane Watson where the ball was short, and he pulled it towards the deep mid-wicket boundary. It was simply a "wow" moment as Watson dejectedly saw the ball sail over. Courtesy Kohli's fireworks, India completed their highest successful chase with 39 balls to spare.

#5 119 against South Africa, Johannesburg, 2013

If a player has not played any Test in South Africa and New Zealand and just one series in Australia, he is expected to take time to get used to the swing and extra bounce in such conditions. And if the opposition has world-class bowlers like Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and experienced Jacques Kallis in the attack, one can think of only hard times ahead.

That was not supposed to be the case for a master batsman like Kohli. On the first day of his first Test match in South Africa, he made his presence felt as he scripted a famous ton on a pacy Wanderers wicket. The importance of the this innings can be gauged from the fact that India just scored 280 runs and except Ajinkya Rahane, no other player could cross the 25-run mark. Kohli dominated the Proteas throughout his stay and India collapsed shortly after his wicket fell.