What Happened Last time When Virat Kohli batted at No. 7?
It was strange that Kohli was supposed to bat as low as No.8 in the first ODI against the West Indies. The team management decided to give other batters a chance to get some game time in the middle by holding back senior players like Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma. Kohli is definitely one of the best ODI batters ever, and he’s been at his absolute best at No.3. He’s only batted at No.7 in ODIs four times, and that’s the lowest he’s ever batted.
Also Read: Three Virat Kohli Run-Outs That Shocked Cricket Worlds
Virat Kohli last batted at No.7 during the 2011 World Cup
Kohli’s last ODI innings at No.7 was in India’s infamous defeat to South Africa during Match 29 of the 2011 World Cup in Nagpur. It was the only game that the Men in Blue lost in the entire tournament on their way to clinching the title of world champions. Sehwag and Tendulkar had an amazing start, adding 142 runs for the first wicket. Sehwag made 73, and Tendulkar scored his sixth World Cup hundred which was also his 99th ton in international cricket.
India’s batting collapse in that match was quite ridiculous! After such a strong start, losing nine wickets in just 29 runs was devastating. Kohli only scored 1(3) at No.7. South Africa had a great chase, with solid starts from Amla (61) and half-centuries from Kallis (69) and de Villiers (52). Although India kept picking up wickets, Botha (23*) and Peterson (18*) made sure that South Africa won in the last over with three wickets in hand and two balls to spare. It was a really embarrassing performance from India, especially given the position they were in earlier in their innings.
Since that fateful 2011 World Cup match where Virat Kohli last batted at No.7, he has evolved into a cricketing maestro, showcasing his prowess at the No.3 position countless times. His exceptional ability to anchor the innings and build partnerships has made him the backbone of India’s batting lineup. With numerous records to his name and a staggering average, Kohli has undoubtedly solidified his position as one of the greatest ODI batters in history.
