‘The best One-Day innings played by an Indian’: Gautam Gambhir lauds Virat Kohli’s iconic 183 against Pakistan

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has tipped Virat Kohli’s iconic knock of 183 runs against Pakistan as the best One-Day innings played by an Indian batter. In the fifth match of the 2012 Asia Cup against arch-rivals, Kohli scored his highest score in the 50-over version.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq decided to bat first after winning the toss. The Men in Green were able to post a par score of 329 runs on the board after centuries from openers – Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed at Dhaka.

However, India was able to chase down the target after Virat Kohli scored a majestic knock of 183 runs off just 148 balls. Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma also scored fine fifties but Gautam Gambhir was dismissed for a duck in that game.

“I saw you make your debut, play that very important knock in the Champions Trophy in South Africa on a tricky wicket against the West Indies, and then playing probably the best one-day innings that has been played by an Indian batter, and I have said this before,” Gambhir said while talking to Virat Kohli on BCCI.

Talking about the quality of that knock, Gambhir said, “Not purely from a point of view because guys have scored double hundreds as well, it is the best innings I have ever seen because of the quality of the opposition, the conditions, chasing 300-plus against Pakistan.”

Gambhir also lauded Virat Kohli for taking Indian cricket forward in the right direction.

“You’ve done some really special things. Most importantly for me, how you have taken Indian cricket forward is probably the legacy you have left for the next generation.”

Meanwhile, Kohli was dismissed after scoring only six runs against Bangladesh in the first innings of the opening Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Thursday.

However, India finished strongly at 339-6 with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja unbeaten on 102 and 86 runs respectively.