Virat Kohli's most memorable World Cup knocks: Top 3 innings

Virat Kohli has produced some of the most memorable batting performances in ODI World Cup history. Across multiple editions, his ability to deliver under pressure has placed him among the greatest batters the tournament has seen.

Kohli's combined ODI World Cup tally stands at 1,795 runs across 37 innings, second only to Sachin Tendulkar's 2,278. His 2023 edition alone was historic, and a few specific innings stand out above the rest.

Here are top three ODI World Cup knocks from Virat Kohli:

1. 117 vs New Zealand, ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final

At the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai during the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, Kohli scored 117 off 113 deliveries against New Zealand. The knock arrived in the 42nd over when he reached three figures, and it carried India into the final.

The century was Kohli's 50th in ODI cricket, making him the outright record holder for most hundreds in the format, surpassing Tendulkar's previous mark. Shreyas Iyer also contributed 105 in the same match. Across the 2023 edition, Kohli finished with 765 runs in 11 innings at an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31, with three hundreds and six fifties. That tally broke Tendulkar's single-edition record of 673 set in 2003, and Kohli was named Player of the Series.

2. 85 vs Australia, ODI World Cup 2023 opener

India began their 2023 World Cup campaign against Australia in a challenging situation while chasing a target of 199 runs. The team suffered an early collapse, losing three wickets for just two runs. Virat Kohli walked to the crease under immense pressure, joining KL Rahul to rebuild the innings. Displaying remarkable patience, composure and determination, Kohli scored a crucial 85 runs off 116 balls.

Together, the pair formed a match-winning partnership, guiding India out of trouble and bringing them closer to victory. Their outstanding efforts helped India secure a six-wicket win, giving the team a memorable start to their World Cup campaign.

3. 107 vs Pakistan, ODI World Cup 2015

On February 15, 2015, Virat Kohli delivered a memorable performance against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval during the ICC World Cup. Batting first, India relied on Kohli's exceptional innings of 107 runs off 126 deliveries, which included eight boundaries. His century played a crucial role in helping India establish a competitive total of 300 runs.

Kohli displayed remarkable concentration, technique and confidence against Pakistan's bowling attack. With this achievement, he became the first Indian batter to score a century against Pakistan in World Cup history. India eventually secured a convincing 76-run victory in this historic encounter.