Virat Kohli’s Brilliance in Run Chases: A Look Back at the 2012 Tri-Nation Series
Virat Kohli has made a name for himself as one of the best chasers in cricket history, showcasing his talent across all three formats of the game for over fifteen years. One of his standout performances came during the 2012 Tri-Nation Series held in Australia, where he played a key role in securing a win against Sri Lanka at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
In this match, India faced a challenging target of 321 runs, which they needed to chase down in just 40 overs to advance to the final. The innings got off to a great start thanks to Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, who put together 54 runs for the first wicket in just over six overs. Kohli stepped onto the field after Tendulkar was dismissed by Lasith Malinga when the score was 86 for two.
From that point on, Kohli took full control of the game. He remained unbeaten and led India to a commendable victory by reaching the target in only 36.4 overs. He reached his half-century in just 44 balls and then accelerated the pace, bringing up his century in 76 balls.
Kohli concluded the match with an impressive score of 133 runs from 86 deliveries, including 16 fours and 2 sixes. Following the match, then-captain MS Dhoni remarked on the target’s difficulty. He praised his team’s strong start, stating, "This was some of the best ODI cricket I have been a part of. When you need 321 off 40, you need a good start. You need to control the game, but once we got that start, we knew we could go for it."
Fast forward thirteen years, and Kohli continues to be a remarkable player in high-pressure situations. He holds the record for the most runs in successful run chases in One Day Internationals (ODIs), amassing an impressive 5,913 runs in 105 matches with an outstanding average of 89.59, which includes 24 centuries and 25 fifties. His latest century in a chase was made against Pakistan on February 23, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Virat Kohli’s journey as a cricketer remains a testament to his skills and determination, making him one of the finest in the sport.
