New Delhi [India], Over the years of his storied cricket career, India's star batsman Virat Kohli has been the team's most reliable player, in all weathers and in all situations, who has dominated the game in different conditions and against different opponents around the world. .
While Virat has had some favorites over the years regarding countries, bowlers and pitches he likes to play on, such as his dominant record on the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia, his supremacy against Pakistan or his battles with players like Pat Cummins, James Anderson and Kagiso Rabada, there is one place that really stands out when it comes to hosting Virat's career-defining moments, i.e. the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Virat has an outstanding record in all formats at Wankhede, scoring 1,140 runs in 19 innings from 16 matches at an average of 71.25, with three centuries and seven half-centuries, his best score being 235. These are some of the moments that defined Virat's career at the Wankhede stadium:
-2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Victory
Virat was just a young upstart when India played the 50-over World Cup final at home against Sri Lanka. Chasing a tough 275 runs to win in front of a packed Wankhede crowd that wouldn't settle for anything less than a World Cup trophy for India and its legendary veteran Sachin Tendulkar, Virat's big game potential was put to the test when he arrived at 31 years old. /2 after the Master Blaster's dismissal.As he walked back, Sachin said a few words to a young Virat, and for a few seconds, both batsmen were in the frame, with Sachin stepping back and an energetic Virat advancing towards the crease, symbolizing the passing of the baton. Virat gave a small glimpse of his steely determination to win big and deliver big in difficult situations, scoring a valuable 35 off 49 balls and putting up an 83-run stand with Gautam Gambhir, which finally paved the way for the first World Cup of 50 seniors in India. win in 28 years. In the initial phase of his career, Virat had bagged the gold. He scored 282 runs in the tournament, with a century and a fifty. He made one of the greatest memories of his career by lifting his idol Sachin on his shoulders during the victory lap.
-Heartbreak in Wankhede during peak rule
In 2016, Virat seemed to be able to do no wrong, especially in Indian colours. The ball found the center of his bat perfectly, sixes, half-centuries, centuries and classy shots came out at will. The batsman dominated the sport in all formats. It was time for the ICC T20 World Cup in March, and Virat was keen to stamp his authority on the tournament after winning the Player of the Tournament with 319 runs (the most by any player in a single edition) in 2014, but finished as runners-up to Sri Lanka.Virat single-handedly took India to the semi-finals, scoring 89* in just 47 balls, with 11 fours and a six against the West Indies in the semi-final. However, the West Indies unleashed a counter-attack after two early wickets, and a torrent of runs simply did not stop. It was Virat who ended the innings of a devastating Johnson Charles. With the bowlers wasting their chances and getting no wickets, captain MS Dhoni took a risk by giving Virat the eight-run finish. However, the deficit was reduced to just two balls, with a heartbroken Virat silently wiping away tears.
He finished as Player of the Tournament with 273 runs in five innings at an average of 136.50, with three fifties, with India's next highest scorer being Dhoni, with 89 runs in five innings. Despite such a massive one-man effort, Virat was left heartbroken.
-50th ODI centuryAfter a poor run of form in the early 2020s, Virat found form in the Asia Cup 2022, scoring his 71st century after more than three years and did not look back after that. His rampant form ahead of the 50-over World Cup at home put India in a good position. In the semi-finals, an unbeaten India was led by centuries by Virat and Shreyas Iyer. After years of delivering poor performances in 50-over World Cup knockouts, Virat made up for his past failures with a record-breaking 50th ODI ton, surpassing his idol Sachin's tally of 49 centuries, with the Master Blaster watching him proudly from the stands. India scored 397/4 on the board and the Kiwis made 327 runs thanks to a seven-wicket haul by pacer Mohammed Shami.
-ICC T20 World Cup Victory Congratulatory Event
Men in Blue ended their trophy drought in the West Indies by winning their second ICC T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa by seven runs in a harrowing thriller. Virat starred with the bat in his last T20I game, scoring 76 off 59 balls and coming just when it looked like his batting form had deserted him. After a decisive performance in the final, Virat returned to Wankhede at the felicitation event as a world champion, as the holder of the World T20 that had been denied to him due to luck, difficult game situations and the team's poor performances in the last years. years despite his dominance in the tournament. The ghosts of the 2016 semi-finals against the Windies were exorcised when Virat took a victory lap with cutlery in hand.
While Virat has had some favorites over the years regarding countries, bowlers and pitches he likes to play on, such as his dominant record on the fast, bouncy pitches of Australia, his supremacy against Pakistan or his battles with players like Pat Cummins, James Anderson and Kagiso Rabada, there is one place that really stands out when it comes to hosting Virat's career-defining moments, i.e. the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Virat has an outstanding record in all formats at Wankhede, scoring 1,140 runs in 19 innings from 16 matches at an average of 71.25, with three centuries and seven half-centuries, his best score being 235. These are some of the moments that defined Virat's career at the Wankhede stadium:
-2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Victory
Virat was just a young upstart when India played the 50-over World Cup final at home against Sri Lanka. Chasing a tough 275 runs to win in front of a packed Wankhede crowd that wouldn't settle for anything less than a World Cup trophy for India and its legendary veteran Sachin Tendulkar, Virat's big game potential was put to the test when he arrived at 31 years old. /2 after the Master Blaster's dismissal.As he walked back, Sachin said a few words to a young Virat, and for a few seconds, both batsmen were in the frame, with Sachin stepping back and an energetic Virat advancing towards the crease, symbolizing the passing of the baton. Virat gave a small glimpse of his steely determination to win big and deliver big in difficult situations, scoring a valuable 35 off 49 balls and putting up an 83-run stand with Gautam Gambhir, which finally paved the way for the first World Cup of 50 seniors in India. win in 28 years. In the initial phase of his career, Virat had bagged the gold. He scored 282 runs in the tournament, with a century and a fifty. He made one of the greatest memories of his career by lifting his idol Sachin on his shoulders during the victory lap.
-Heartbreak in Wankhede during peak rule
In 2016, Virat seemed to be able to do no wrong, especially in Indian colours. The ball found the center of his bat perfectly, sixes, half-centuries, centuries and classy shots came out at will. The batsman dominated the sport in all formats. It was time for the ICC T20 World Cup in March, and Virat was keen to stamp his authority on the tournament after winning the Player of the Tournament with 319 runs (the most by any player in a single edition) in 2014, but finished as runners-up to Sri Lanka.Virat single-handedly took India to the semi-finals, scoring 89* in just 47 balls, with 11 fours and a six against the West Indies in the semi-final. However, the West Indies unleashed a counter-attack after two early wickets, and a torrent of runs simply did not stop. It was Virat who ended the innings of a devastating Johnson Charles. With the bowlers wasting their chances and getting no wickets, captain MS Dhoni took a risk by giving Virat the eight-run finish. However, the deficit was reduced to just two balls, with a heartbroken Virat silently wiping away tears.
He finished as Player of the Tournament with 273 runs in five innings at an average of 136.50, with three fifties, with India's next highest scorer being Dhoni, with 89 runs in five innings. Despite such a massive one-man effort, Virat was left heartbroken.
-50th ODI centuryAfter a poor run of form in the early 2020s, Virat found form in the Asia Cup 2022, scoring his 71st century after more than three years and did not look back after that. His rampant form ahead of the 50-over World Cup at home put India in a good position. In the semi-finals, an unbeaten India was led by centuries by Virat and Shreyas Iyer. After years of delivering poor performances in 50-over World Cup knockouts, Virat made up for his past failures with a record-breaking 50th ODI ton, surpassing his idol Sachin's tally of 49 centuries, with the Master Blaster watching him proudly from the stands. India scored 397/4 on the board and the Kiwis made 327 runs thanks to a seven-wicket haul by pacer Mohammed Shami.
-ICC T20 World Cup Victory Congratulatory Event
Men in Blue ended their trophy drought in the West Indies by winning their second ICC T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa by seven runs in a harrowing thriller. Virat starred with the bat in his last T20I game, scoring 76 off 59 balls and coming just when it looked like his batting form had deserted him. After a decisive performance in the final, Virat returned to Wankhede at the felicitation event as a world champion, as the holder of the World T20 that had been denied to him due to luck, difficult game situations and the team's poor performances in the last years. years despite his dominance in the tournament. The ghosts of the 2016 semi-finals against the Windies were exorcised when Virat took a victory lap with cutlery in hand.
