‘This innings’: Rajkumar Sharma reveals his favourite innings of Virat Kohli’s career

Virat Kohli is back on the cricket field and is preparing for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. The Indian batter has been working hard in the nets to get ready for the series. Since Kohli has retired from Test and T20I cricket, he now plays only the 50-over format. As a result, he focuses on fitness and batting practice before important matches.

Ahead of his ODI return, Kohli's childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, has grabbed attention by revealing his favourite innings from the batter's career. Sharma played an important role in Kohli's early cricket journey and helped shape him into one of India's most successful batters. His choice has once again brought attention to one of Kohli's most memorable performances.

In a recent interview, Sharma was asked to name his favourite Virat Kohli innings. He picked Kohli's unbeaten 82-run knock against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kohli's memorable innings helped India chase down a target of 160 runs in a thrilling match and remains one of the most celebrated performances of his career.

Rajkumar Sharma names his favourite Virat Kohli innings

Rajkumar Sharma recently revealed his favourite Virat Kohli innings during a rapid-fire question round. He was asked to choose between some of the most memorable knocks of Kohli's career. Sharma repeatedly picked the unbeaten 82-run innings against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup, showing how special that performance is to him.

During the rapid-fire round, Sharma was first asked to choose between Kohli's 183 against Pakistan and 133 against Sri Lanka. He picked 183. When asked to choose between 183 against Pakistan and 235 against England, he again selected 183. However, when 183 was compared with Kohli's unbeaten 82 against Pakistan, Sharma chose the 82-run knock. He also preferred the 82* against Pakistan over Kohli's 72* against South Africa.

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Sharma continued to pick the unbeaten 82 against Pakistan when it was compared with Kohli's 119 against South Africa, 100* against Australia and 141 against Australia. He also chose the Melbourne innings over another unbeaten 82 against Australia. His answers made it clear that Kohli's memorable performance against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup remains his favourite innings.

Why Rajkumar Sharma picked Kohli’s 82* over every other innings

Rajkumar Sharma picked Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup because of the pressure and importance of the match. The game was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of more than 90,000 spectators. India had also suffered a 10-wicket defeat against Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup and lost another match to them in the 2022 Asia Cup. Therefore, the team had a lot to prove in Melbourne. The pressure was even greater when India lost four wickets for just 31 runs while chasing 160.

Despite the difficult situation, Kohli kept India's hopes alive with a brilliant innings. At one stage, India needed 28 runs from the final eight balls, with Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf bowling an excellent spell. However, Kohli changed the game by hitting two consecutive sixes off Rauf in the 19th over. His first six, played straight over the bowler's head, became one of the most memorable shots in cricket history. Kohli remained unbeaten on 82 off 53 balls, helping India win the match by four wickets on the final ball.

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The final over added even more drama to the match. With 16 runs needed, Mohammad Nawaz dismissed Hardik Pandya before Kohli hit a six off a waist-high full toss. After a no-ball and a wide, India needed six runs from three balls. Kohli was bowled on a free hit, but the ball rolled away from the stumps, allowing the batters to run three. Dinesh Karthik was then stumped, but Ravichandran Ashwin kept his cool and hit the winning run. The thrilling finish made Kohli's innings even more special and helped turn it into one of the most unforgettable moments in India's cricket history.

Fan reactions and what it says about Kohli’s legacy

Rajkumar Sharma's choice of Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 against Pakistan has once again reminded fans of one of the greatest innings of his career. The knock remains special for cricket lovers because of the pressure, the situation and the importance of the match. Many fans still consider it one of the best performances in T20 World Cup history. Here is how the fans reacted on X:

Kohli's innings also reflects his ability to perform in difficult situations and deliver when the team needs him most. Over the years, he has produced several memorable performances across formats, but his Melbourne knock holds a special place among fans. His determination, confidence and ability to handle pressure have made him one of the most celebrated batters in international cricket.

As Kohli prepares for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, fans will be hoping to see more memorable performances from him. His journey continues to inspire young cricketers, while his achievements have strengthened his legacy as one of India's greatest batters.