Kohli’s 4 Best Knocks Against Pakistan

Virat Kohli has played several memorable innings against Pakistan, but a few stand out because of the pressure, quality of the bowling attack and importance of the match.

Kohli's unbeaten 82 in the 2022 T20 World Cup is his most memorable innings against Pakistan. India were 31/4 while chasing 160 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before Kohli produced one of the greatest run chases in T20 World Cup history.

His career-best ODI score of 183 in the 2012 Asia Cup, unbeaten 122 in the 2023 Asia Cup and unbeaten 100 in the 2025 Champions Trophy also belong among his best performances against Pakistan.

Virat Kohli's 4 Best Knocks Against Pakistan

All four innings came in major international tournaments. Three came while India were chasing, which fits Kohli's reputation as one of the strongest run-chasers of his generation.

1. Virat Kohli – 82* vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2022

Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 from 53 balls against Pakistan at the MCG is his best innings against Pakistan and one of the most famous knocks of his international career.

India faced Pakistan in their opening match of the 2022 Men's T20 World Cup in Melbourne.

Pakistan scored 159/8 after fifties from Shan Masood and Iftikhar Ahmed.

A target of 160 was difficult but certainly chaseable.

The situation changed completely once Pakistan's fast bowlers began attacking India's top order.

India Collapsed to 31/4

KL Rahul was dismissed early by Naseem Shah.

Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav then fell to Haris Rauf, while Axar Patel was run out.

India were suddenly 31/4.

Pakistan had their fast bowlers operating with pace and movement, and India still needed 129 runs.

Kohli was at the crease, but even he could not attack immediately because another wicket could have effectively ended the chase.

Hardik Pandya joined him, and the two began rebuilding.

Kohli and Hardik Brought India Back

Kohli and Hardik added a century partnership for the fifth wicket.

The first part of the stand was controlled.

They focused on staying in the game rather than trying to chase the target in a few overs.

As the innings moved towards the death overs, India still needed a very difficult finish.

With three overs remaining, India required 48 runs from 18 balls.

Pakistan were still in a strong position.

Kohli then changed the match.

The Haris Rauf Sixes

The 19th over became the defining moment of the chase.

Haris Rauf had bowled well and India needed 28 runs from eight balls when Kohli produced one of the most famous shots in T20 cricket.

Rauf bowled a hard-length delivery around off stump.

Kohli stayed almost completely still and hit it straight back over the bowler's head for six.

The next ball went over fine leg for another six.

Those two shots reduced the equation dramatically and gave India a realistic chance going into the final over.

The straight six has since become one of the most replayed shots of Kohli's career.

Kohli Finished With 82 Not Out

The final over brought even more drama.

Hardik was dismissed, Mohammad Nawaz bowled a no-ball, Kohli was bowled off the free hit but India ran three, and the match eventually came down to the final delivery.

Ravichandran Ashwin scored the winning run.

Kohli remained unbeaten on 82 from 53 balls, with six fours and four sixes.

India won by four wickets.

The innings later received further recognition when Kohli's famous shot against Rauf was voted the greatest moment in Men's T20 World Cup history in an ICC fan vote.

Why the 82* Ranks First

Kohli has scored more runs against Pakistan in other matches, but the situation makes the 82 not out different.

India were 31/4.

The required rate was climbing.

Pakistan had one of the strongest fast-bowling attacks in the tournament.

More than 90,000 spectators were inside the MCG, and the match was India's opening game of the World Cup.

Kohli had almost no room for error.

He absorbed the pressure, kept the chase alive and then attacked exactly when India needed him to.

That combination puts the innings at No. 1.

2. Virat Kohli – 183 vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2012

Kohli's 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup remains his highest ODI score and one of the greatest run-chasing innings of his career.

Pakistan batted first in Dhaka and produced 329/6.

Mohammad Hafeez scored 105, while Nasir Jamshed made 112.

The pair added 224 for the opening wicket and gave Pakistan a huge platform.

India needed 330 to win.

The chase became even harder almost immediately.

Gautam Gambhir was dismissed for a duck from the second ball of the innings.

Kohli walked in with India 0/1.

Kohli Rebuilt With Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar joined Kohli in rebuilding India's innings.

Instead of allowing Pakistan's bowlers to attack after the early wicket, the pair began finding boundaries and rotating the strike.

Tendulkar made 52 before he was dismissed.

Kohli remained.

Rohit Sharma then joined him, and the pair built another major partnership.

The required rate never became unmanageable because Kohli continued scoring at a strong pace.

Kohli Attacked Pakistan's Bowling

This was not a slow chase built only around singles.

Kohli repeatedly found the boundary.

He was especially strong through the covers and midwicket and punished anything too full or too straight.

Pakistan tried different bowlers and plans, but Kohli kept controlling the chase.

He eventually reached 150 and continued attacking.

By the time Pakistan finally dismissed him, India were almost at the target.

183 From 148 Balls

Kohli scored 183 from 148 deliveries.

His innings contained 22 fours and one six.

It remains the highest score of his ODI career.

India chased 330 with 13 balls remaining and won by six wickets.

The performance was especially important because Pakistan had produced two centuries in the same match, yet Kohli's single innings overshadowed both.

Why the 183 Was a Turning Point

Kohli was already a highly rated young batter by 2012, but the innings helped establish his reputation as an elite ODI chaser.

A target above 300 against Pakistan carries extra pressure.

Losing a wicket in the first over made the job even harder.

Kohli did not simply help India survive.

He controlled most of the chase himself.

His 183 remains one of the finest ODI innings ever played in an India-Pakistan match.

3. Virat Kohli – 122* vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2023

Kohli produced another major Pakistan performance in the 2023 Asia Cup, scoring an unbeaten 122 from only 94 balls.

India faced Pakistan in the Super Four stage at Colombo.

Rain interrupted the match and forced it into the reserve day.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a strong opening start before both were dismissed.

Kohli then joined KL Rahul.

The pair completely took control.

Kohli Started Carefully

Kohli did not begin his innings with all-out aggression.

He reached fifty from 55 balls.

At that stage, his main job was to build a strong partnership and keep India's innings stable after the openers had been dismissed.

Once settled, his scoring rate changed dramatically.

Kohli scored his next 72 runs from only 39 balls.

Pakistan's bowlers struggled to contain him during the final part of the innings.

Kohli and KL Rahul Added 233 Runs

Kohli and Rahul put together an unbeaten 233-run partnership for the third wicket.

Rahul also scored a century, finishing unbeaten on 111.

The partnership took India to 356/2.

Kohli finished with 122 not out from 94 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes.

His running between the wickets was also a major part of the innings.

Even when boundaries were not available, Kohli and Rahul kept converting singles into twos and maintained the pressure on Pakistan's fielders.

India Won by 228 Runs

Pakistan's chase never developed.

Kuldeep Yadav took five wickets as Pakistan were restricted to 128.

India won by 228 runs, their biggest ODI victory over Pakistan by runs at the time.

Kohli was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten century.

The innings also brought several personal milestones, including another ODI hundred at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Why the 122* Belongs in the Top Three

Kohli had already played Pakistan many times by 2023.

The bowling attack included high-quality fast bowlers, and the rain interruption created an unusual stop-start contest.

Kohli remained focused across two days and then accelerated strongly once India reached the final phase of the innings.

His partnership with Rahul effectively removed Pakistan from the match before the chase began.

4. Virat Kohli – 100* vs Pakistan, Champions Trophy 2025

Kohli's unbeaten century against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy was another classic example of his ability to control an ODI chase.

India faced Pakistan in Dubai during the group stage.

Pakistan batted first and were bowled out for 241.

India lost Rohit Sharma early in the chase, bringing Kohli to the crease.

The target was not huge, but an India-Pakistan Champions Trophy match carries pressure that cannot be measured only by the required run rate.

Kohli settled quickly and controlled the chase.

Kohli Passed 14,000 ODI Runs

During the innings, Kohli became only the third batter in men's ODI cricket to pass 14,000 runs, joining Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

The milestone came during another important tournament innings against Pakistan.

Kohli built partnerships rather than trying to finish the match quickly.

Shubman Gill helped establish control before Shreyas Iyer joined Kohli and moved India closer to the target.

Kohli Finished the Match With His Century

As India approached victory, Kohli was also approaching three figures.

He reached his century and remained unbeaten as India completed the chase.

Kohli made 100 not out from 111 balls.

India won by six wickets.

He also received the Player of the Match award.

It was his 51st ODI century and 82nd international hundred.

Why the 2025 Hundred Was Important

By 2025, Kohli had already achieved almost every major batting milestone.

The Champions Trophy innings still mattered because it showed that his ability to perform in high-pressure tournament matches against Pakistan remained intact late in his career.

He did not need to play an explosive innings.

The chase required control, and Kohli provided exactly that.

He stayed until the target was completed and added another major tournament century to his record.

Kohli's 107 vs Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup

Kohli's 107 at Adelaide in the 2015 ODI World Cup narrowly misses this top four but deserves a special mention.

India batted first.

Shikhar Dhawan scored 73 and Suresh Raina made 74, but Kohli provided the main innings.

He scored 107 from 126 balls, hitting eight fours.

India finished on 300/7.

Pakistan were then bowled out for 224, giving India a 76-run victory.

Kohli was named Player of the Match.

Kohli Became the First Indian to Score a World Cup Century Against Pakistan

The 107 carried major historical value.

Kohli became the first Indian batter to score a century against Pakistan in an ODI World Cup match.

India had already built a famous unbeaten World Cup record against Pakistan, and Kohli's hundred helped extend it.

The innings was less dramatic than the 2022 MCG chase or the 183 in Dhaka, but its World Cup importance keeps it among his greatest Pakistan performances.

Kohli's Best T20 World Cup Knocks Against Pakistan

Kohli has an exceptional T20 World Cup record against Pakistan.

The 82 not out at Melbourne is the most famous example, but he also produced major innings in earlier editions.

In 2012, Kohli scored an unbeaten 78 as India successfully chased Pakistan's target in Colombo.

In 2016, he made an unbeaten 55 on a difficult Kolkata pitch.

Those innings helped build his reputation as Pakistan's biggest batting problem in T20 World Cups.

Kohli's 78* vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2012

India needed 129 to win in Colombo.

Gautam Gambhir was dismissed from the second ball of the chase, but Kohli quickly took control.

He scored 78 not out from 61 balls and carried India to victory.

The innings came during Kohli's early years as an international player and provided another example of his natural ability in run chases.

It was also his first major T20 World Cup performance against Pakistan.

Kohli's 55* vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2016

The India-Pakistan match in Kolkata was reduced to 18 overs per side because of rain.

The pitch was difficult for batting and offered significant assistance to the bowlers.

India lost early wickets while chasing 119.

Kohli remained calm and scored 55 not out from 37 balls.

India won by six wickets.

This innings did not contain the same explosive hitting as the 2022 performance, but it was an excellent example of Kohli adapting his batting to difficult conditions.

Kohli's Best ODI Knocks Against Pakistan

Kohli has also produced several big ODI innings against Pakistan.

Each century came in a major tournament rather than a low-pressure bilateral contest.

The 183 remains his career-best ODI score, while the 2025 hundred came during another successful chase.

183 vs 82*: Which Is Kohli's Best Innings Against Pakistan?

Statistically, 183 is clearly the bigger innings.

Kohli scored more than twice as many runs and helped India chase 330.

However, the 82 not out has a stronger case when match situation and pressure are considered.

India were 31/4, needed 160 in a T20 World Cup match and later required 48 from the final three overs.

Kohli had very little margin for error.

The 183 was a great chase.

The 82 not out was a rescue mission followed by an extraordinary finish.

That is why the MCG innings sits at the top of this list.

Kohli's Record in ICC Events Against Pakistan

Kohli has repeatedly delivered against Pakistan in global tournaments.

His major performances include:

• 78* in the 2012 T20 World Cup
• 107 in the 2015 ODI World Cup
• 55* in the 2016 T20 World Cup
• 82* in the 2022 T20 World Cup
• 100* in the 2025 Champions Trophy

His record covers different countries, formats, pitches and match situations.

Some innings came batting first, while others came in difficult chases.

That versatility is one reason his India-Pakistan performances are remembered so strongly.

Kohli Against Pakistan in Asia Cups

The Asia Cup has also produced two of Kohli's greatest ODI innings.

His 183 in 2012 remains his highest ODI score.

Eleven years later, he scored 122 not out in Colombo.

The two innings came at very different stages of his career.

In 2012, Kohli was a young batter establishing himself as India's future star.

By 2023, he was an experienced former captain with more than a decade of international cricket behind him.

Pakistan still struggled to stop him in both matches.

Kohli's Strength While Chasing Against Pakistan

Three of the four innings in this list show a major feature of Kohli's batting: his ability to manage a chase.

He rarely treats every delivery as equally important.

Early in the innings, he focuses on partnerships and controlling the required rate.

Once he understands the pitch and bowling attack, he increases the scoring rate.

The 183 in Dhaka and 82 not out in Melbourne are very different innings, but the basic method was similar.

Kohli stayed at the crease long enough to give himself the chance to decide the match later.

Which Is Kohli's Highest Score Against Pakistan?

Kohli's highest international score against Pakistan is 183.

He made it in the 2012 Asia Cup in Dhaka.

The innings came from 148 balls and included 22 fours and one six.

India successfully chased Pakistan's 329/6 and won by six wickets.

The 183 remains Kohli's highest score in all ODI cricket as well.

Kohli's Most Famous Shot Against Pakistan

Kohli has hit Pakistan for hundreds of boundaries, but one shot stands above the rest.

It came against Haris Rauf at the MCG in 2022.

Rauf bowled a hard-length delivery, and Kohli hit it almost straight over the bowler's head for six.

The shot came when India needed runs desperately and Pakistan were close to winning.

It immediately changed the pressure of the match.

That six has become inseparable from the story of Kohli's 82 not out.

Why Kohli Has Performed So Well Against Pakistan

India-Pakistan matches bring unusual pressure.

There are large television audiences, packed stadiums and constant attention before the match.

Kohli's batting style has often suited those situations.

He values his wicket, runs hard between the wickets and usually tries to take a chase deep.

He can also accelerate quickly once he is set.

Against Pakistan's strong fast-bowling attacks, that patience has often allowed him to survive difficult early periods before attacking later.

Kohli's Four Best Pakistan Innings at a Glance

The four innings show different parts of Kohli's batting.

82 at Melbourne:* the pressure chase.

183 at Dhaka: the huge ODI chase.

122 at Colombo:* the controlled innings followed by a major acceleration.

100 at Dubai:* the experienced tournament chase.

Kohli did not play all four innings in the same way.

That variety is part of what makes his record against Pakistan special.

FAQs

What is Virat Kohli's best innings against Pakistan?

Kohli's unbeaten 82 from 53 balls in the 2022 T20 World Cup at the MCG is widely remembered as his most famous innings against Pakistan.

What is Kohli's highest score against Pakistan?

His highest score is 183 from 148 balls in the 2012 Asia Cup.

How many runs did Kohli score against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup?

He scored 82 not out from 53 balls as India won by four wickets.

How many runs did Kohli score against Pakistan in the 2023 Asia Cup?

Kohli scored 122 not out from 94 balls.

Did Kohli score a century against Pakistan in the 2015 World Cup?

Yes. He scored 107 from 126 balls at Adelaide and was named Player of the Match.

Did Kohli score a century against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy?

Yes. Kohli scored 100 not out from 111 balls as India chased 242 in Dubai.

What is Kohli's highest ODI score?

Kohli's highest ODI score is 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup.

How many times has Kohli scored an international century against Pakistan?

Some of his major centuries against Pakistan include 183 in 2012, 107 in 2015, 122 not out in 2023 and 100 not out in 2025.

What did Kohli score against Pakistan in the 2016 T20 World Cup?

He scored 55 not out from 37 balls in Kolkata.

Which Kohli innings against Pakistan came at the MCG?

His famous 82 not out in the 2022 T20 World Cup came at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.