Virat Kohli and Champions Trophy semi-finals is truly a love story. The former Indian captain has the reputation for stepping up on the biggest stages and he did just that once again on Tuesday in the semi-final against Australia. Three times Kohli has been a part of the semi-finals in the ICC event so far and he has scored a fifty on all three occasions.
Virat Kohli’s love story with Champions Trophy decoded
Kohli’s first half-century in a Champions Trophy semi-final came way back in 2013. That edition was also Virat’s first appearance in the tournament. He stayed unbeaten on 58 runs off 64 deliveries against Sri Lanka in the semi-final, powering India to a 8-wicket win in the run-chase.
Next, he stayed unbeaten on 96 runs off 78 deliveries in the semi-final clash against Bangladesh in Champions Trophy 2017. Once again, it was a run-chase and it was Kohli who stayed till the very end to see India through to a 9-wicket victory.
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The semi-final against Australia on Tuesday marked the third consecutive time Virat scored a half-century in the Champions Trophy knockouts. Chasing 265 runs, Virat played a crucial role in steadying the ship for India after losing Rohit Sharma and Gill early in the innings. His partnerships with Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel and KL Rahul put India in the driver’s seat. He narrowily missed out on a well-deserved hundred as he was caught out on 84 runs off 98 deliveries.
| Score | Opposition | Year |
| 58* | Sri Lanka | 2013 |
| 98* | Bangladesh | 2017 |
| 84 | Australia | 2024 |
During his knock on Tuesday, Kohli went past 8000-run mark in run-chases. In 159 innings in the ODIs where Virat has chased, he averages over 64. That includes 35 not outs, a highest score of 183, a strike-rate of 93, with 28 centuries.
Cricket
India squad for Sri Lanka Tests to be picked this week: Bumrah, Jadeja to return, Washington Sundar doubtful
