Virat Kohli's top 5 innings in 2017

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Virat Kohli, who is widely acclaimed as 'run-machine' has had an unbelievable 2016. He scored 2,595 runs in 41 international innings. He also had a great IPL season with RCB and scored 973 falling just 27 short of 1000.

After having such a fantastic year, many expected Kohli to continue his form in 2017 and he did just that. He had a memorable year as he became the captain of the Indian side in all the formats. Kohli scored 2818 international runs with an average of 68.73. He started the year scoring a century against England in Pune and ended it with two mammoth double centuries against Sri Lanka.

Here are his top 5 innings in the year 2017.


#5 111 vs West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica

India toured West Indies in 2017 for a 5-match ODI series. The first match got abandoned due to rain and India were up 2-1 in the series after 4 matches. With an opportunity to win an away series, India came into the 5th ODI after losing the 4th ODI. Virat, in particular, was very disappointed as he got out for just 3 runs in the 4th ODI and was looking to play one big innings. West Indies were looking to continue their form from their previous ODI and tie the series.

West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first in the fifth and final ODI of the series. West Indies were bundled out for 205. Shami was the pick of the bowlers for India with 4/48 in his allotted 10 overs.

India, who then came out to bat, lost their key opener, Shikhar Dhawan, for just 4 runs. Virat Kohli, in at No.3 built a key partnership of 79 runs with Rahane, before the latter was dismissed for 39 by Bishoo. Kohli, then went on to stitch a partnership of 122 runs with Dinesh Karthik and completed yet another century scoring 111* off 115 balls.

Kohli's century helped India clinch the series 3-1.

#4 104 vs Sri Lanka at Kolkata

Sri Lanka v India - Cricket, 1st Test Day 4

Sri Lankan Cricket Team visited India in November 2017, for a three-game Test series. The first Test happened in Kolkata. Sri Lanka who won the toss chose to put the home team into bat first. India were dismissed for 172, thanks to Lakmal's 4/26. Virat Kohli was dismissed for 0 after facing 11 deliveries.

Sri Lanka then went on to score 294 in its first innings and managed to get a lead of 122 runs in the first innings. India then came to bat in their second innings and after a strong start from Dhawan and KL Rahul, lost both of its openers in quick successions. Kohli then posted a century and remained not out on 104. He stayed like a rock and helped India give a decent target of 231 to Sri Lanka.

While wickets kept tumbling at one end, Kohli was the only player that performed and it was the first time in his career that he got out for duck and scored a century in the same game.

Indian bowlers then bowled really well and the match ended in a draw when Sri Lanka were struggling at 75-7, behind Bhuvaneswar Kumar's 4/8. Though India did not win this game, Kohli's innings sent a statement that he is always looking to bounce back and a duck cannot lower his confidence or stop him from going for a century in the very next innings.

#3 213 vs Sri Lanka at Nagpur

India vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test Match 2017

After the first Test ended in a draw, the focus shifted to the second Test in Nagpur. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 205, behind Ashwin's 4/67.

India came to bat on the first day of the test itself and went on to post a mammoth total of 610 for the loss of just 6 wickets. Pujara, Vijay and Kohli all went on to score centuries in the match. Kohli went on to convert the century into a double ton scoring 213 off just 267 deliveries at a strike rate of 79.78.

Sri Lanka then came to bat and were all-out for mere 166 and India ended up winning by an innings and 239 runs. This innings is particularly important because it gave India the much-needed win to send them 1-0 up in the 3-match Test series. Kohli was rightly adjudged the man of the match.

Banking on this innings from Kohli, India after getting the lead went on to win the third test and finish the series 2-0.

#2 113 vs New Zealand at Kanpur

India v New Zealand 3rd ODI

With series on the line, Kohli hit a magnificent century to lead home. This century is particularly special because it came against a brilliant NZ bowling attack spearheaded by Southee and Boult.

New Zealand won the toss and put India to bat in a day-night match. The home team lost its key opener Shikhar Dhawan at 14. Kohli who came in to bat with scoreboard reading 29-1 went on to score a century along with Rohit Sharma also scoring his own. Kohli scored 113 off 106 balls with 9 fours and 1 six at a strike rate of 106.6. They both went on to build a partnership of 230 runs before Rohit Sharma got dismissed. It was Kohli's 32nd century and his 5th against New Zealand.

The Kiwis, behind Munro's 62-ball 75 and Latham's 52-ball 65 almost chased this total and India luckily survived by mere 6 runs. Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with 3/47 in 10 overs.

Rohit Sharma won the MoM but this innings is definitely one of Kohli's very important knocks because of the fact that the series was on the line and India lost its key opener very early in the game.

#1 122 vs England at Pune

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Virat Kohli came into this series with added responsibilities as he became the captain across all the formats. India won the toss and chose to bowl first, in a day-night match at MCA stadium, Pune.

England started their innings first and posted a mammoth total of 350-7 in 50 overs, behind Jason Roy's 73(61), Joe Root's 78(95) and Ben Stoke's 62(40). For India, it was Hardik Pandya who was economical with 2/46 in the 9 overs that he has bowled.

India who then came to bat chasing the big total lost early wickets and were left reeling at 63-4. It was then that the local boy Kedhar Jadhav stitched together along with Virat Kohli, a partnership of 200 runs to take India over the winning line. Though it was Jadhav who attracted the spectators' eyes with meaty blows all around the park and was rightly adjudged the man of the match, it was Virat Kohli who played the supporting role that instilled confidence in Kedhar Jadhav.

The captain for once took back seat and watched the other guy hit while he played the second fiddle to Jadhav. Their partnership single-handedly took the game away from the visitors.

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Edited by Amar Anand