Why Virat Kohli is known as Father of Pakistan? | India vs Pakistan

The stats don’t lie, It is fair to say this in the India vs Pakistan matches, especially in the ICC tournaments, including ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups, and Champions Trophies. One player who has always stood out is Virat Kohli. Words fall short of describing this legend’s performance against Pakistan every time he steps onto the field. The recent century at the Champions Trophy was a stamp of authority on his genius.

He has not just consistently scored runs against them but also played astonishing knocks, for which he was awarded the Player of the Match award in both ODIs and T20Is on many occasions against Pakistan.

Let’s look at those iconic innings in T20Is and ODIs:

T20Is

82* at MCG in 2022

This inning will surely go down as one of the greatest T20I innings of all time. India decided to chase the total but found themselves in a tragic position with 4 down at the score of 31 in 6.1 overs. Pakistan looked set to hand India another defeat at the T20 World Cup 2022 after the 2021 season. But Virat Kohli, the chase master, had another plan. Along with Hardik Pandya, Kohli stitched a partnership of 113 runs in 13 overs, and by the end of the 19th over, India needed 16 in the last 6 deliveries. India scored 16 runs in the last 6 deliveries and won the game from the unbelievable position of 31-4.

49 at Mirpur, Dhaka in 2016

After bowling out Pakistan for a mere 83, India didn’t start well in the run chase. Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Sami looked threatening on that day and reduced India to 8 for 3. At this moment, Virat stood up and played a match-winning knock of 49 runs off 51 balls. He tackled those ferocious spells of the pacers and formed a match-winning partnership of 68 runs with Yuvraj Singh to set the perfect platform to win the game.

55* at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 2016

Virat Kohli, in the T20 World Cup 2016, was a different beast. And once again, in the India vs Pakistan game, Kohli stood up for India and guided the team home. Chasing 119, India found themselves in a tricky position at 23 for 3 down. However, Virat stood strong and, along with Yuvraj Singh, formed a valuable partnership of 61 runs that was enough for India to emerge victorious.

78* at RPS, Colombo in 2012

The young, stylish Virat Kohli showed his chasing skills back in the T20 World Cup 2012, which was also his debut T20 World Cup season. Asked to chase 129 runs, India lost the first wicket on 1 run, then Virat came and scored a fantastic 78 off 61 balls. Along with Sehwag, Kohli formed a partnership of 74 runs that gave India the platform to cruise ahead, then followed by a 54 partnership with Yuvraj Singh to guide India to victory.

ODIs

100* at Dubai in 2025

Virat Kohli added another jewel to his crown after another chase masterclass. Pakistan failed miserably in the first innings and put on a total of 241. India lost Rohit early, and it was time for Virat Kohli to step up and guide India to victory once again, where batting also looked a bit tricky as the game progressed. Virat Kohli, one of the bests when it comes to chasing, stood strong to add crucial partnerships of 69 runs with Shubman and 114 runs with Shreyas Iyer. Along with that, he also scored a magnificent 100* off 111 balls. That was also his 52nd ODI century.

122* at RPS, Colombo in 2023

RPS Colombo witnessed another Virat Kohli classic against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023. India went out for a mammoth total of 356 runs with the loss of just 2 wickets, courtesy of the centuries by Virat and KL Rahul. With the platform set by Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, who came to bat after the loss of the first wicket at a score of 121 runs and stichted a partnership of 333 runs with KL Rahul to set the target of 357 runs, where Virat Kohli scored a magnificent 122* off 94 balls and led India to victory by 228 runs.

107 at Adelaide Oval in 2015

Electing to bat first, India lost Rohit at the team score of 34 runs. After that, it was Virat’s partnerships with Dhawan of 129 runs and Raina of 110 runs which helped India to set a target of 300. On 15th February 2015, Virat Kohli also became the first Indian to score a century against Pakistan in the ICC ODI World Cup. For his important contribution, which was the primary reason behind India’s success, Kolhi was also provided with the Player of the Match award.

183 at Mirpur, Dhaka in 2012

This inning put a stamp of ‘chase master’ on Virat Kohli. The young, dynamic batsman single-handedly won the game for India. Asked to chase 330, Virat came to the crease at the loss of Gambhir’s wicket at 0, then added a partnership of 133 runs with the great Sachin Tendulkar, and then had a 172 runs of partnership with Rohit Sharma, despite getting out after a sensational inning of 183 runs his inning set the stage for India to emerge victorious in a crucial game against Pakistan.

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