Virat Kohli is undoubtedly the best batter the world has seen when it comes to the second innings in a 50-over game. He does not just chase down big totals, he bosses the chase. And he has been doing it since he was quite young.
What stands out is this sense of responsibility, the awareness that he has to get the job done, come what may. He will do it. His average batting second in winning causes is an insane 90.40 in 102 games. Here are five instances, not including the ongoing World Cup and comprising only three-figure knocks when batting second.
2012, Hobart, vs Sri Lanka, tri-series in Australia: India had to get to the target in 40 overs or thereabouts to qualify for the final. They conceded 320. By any stretch of imagination, even in the days of T20s, that was a bizarre sort of an ask. India got a good start courtesy Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. Gautam Gambhir contributed at No. 3, so did Suresh Raina at No. 5. What did this guy do? He hammered an unbeaten 133. The next-highest score was 63. India made 321-3 in 36.4 overs at 8.75. Kidding? The kid was born! Kohli 133 not out off 86 balls, 16 fours, two sixes.
2012, Mirpur, vs Pakistan, Asia Cup in Bangladesh: This was not a mediocre total to chase. Pakistan made 329. Back then, gunning down such totals was not unheard of, but uncommon. Even more uncanny was the manner in which he went about his task. There were Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz and Shahid Afridi in the attack. Did he care? Well, this stupendous performance affirmed that here was a batter who dared the daunting. It was a towering effort and remains his highest ODI score. Pakistan knew instantly that here was a nemesis after Tendulkar. Kohli 183 off 148 balls, 22 fours, one six.
2013, Nagpur, vs Australia, bilateral series: The winning target was 351. Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli had chased down something similar against the same team in Jaipur a few days earlier. That seemed to be an aberration. Fluke? Well, our man clinically dismantled the attack yet again and gave them no chance. This kind of hunting down of massive totals against a big team was unknown to India and the world. Others contributed significantly, but he hit, he ran and he did not a miss. Kohli 115 not of 66 balls, 18 fours, one six.
2014, Ranchi, vs Sri Lanka, bilateral series: This was not a huge assignment. The task had already been reduced as far as the series was concerned. India were winning this. But they needed a someone to get through with this chase of 286 on a tricky sort of a pitch. Batters from either side got runs, but it was not easy for them. Kohli made it look like as if playing on a different surface. No hanky-panky, no panic, no fireworks. Cool and composed, running hard and job done. It was not as easy as he made it look! Kohli 139 not out off 126 balls, 12 fours, three sixes.
2018, Guwahati, vs West Indies, bilateral series: This was another chase of 300-plus. The target of 322 was made to look smaller by Rohit’s unforgettable assault. But then, the job had to be done. Who does it? Kohli made 140 as if it was nothing. He made centuries and scored runs before and after this, but this was just a class study of how clinically a team could chase on the back of one man. Complete stamp of authority from a player who knew how to do it. Kohli 140 off 107 balls, 21 fours, two sixes.
Note: Look at the low percentage of sixers and you might get an idea how hard he has been haring between the wickets for so many years. A rare champion. Happy birthday to a person who provided boundless joy to a limitless population.