Virat Kohli’s 9 Unfortunate Centuries: When the King’s Bat Roared but India Fell Short

New Delhi: Known as cricket’s “Run Machine,” Virat Kohli has amassed 54 ODI centuries, most of which have propelled India to victory. Yet, there have been 9 notable occasions when his brilliant individual performances could not prevent defeat—highlighting that cricket is ultimately a team game, where even a masterful innings can be overshadowed by collective shortcomings or superior opposition strategies.

Recent Examples Against South Africa and New Zealand
Kohli’s recent centuries against South Africa and New Zealand are the latest examples. In the second ODI against South Africa, he scored a commanding 102 runs, helping India post 359, yet the bowlers were unable to defend the total, and South Africa won by 4 wickets. Against New Zealand, Kohli’s 124-run innings in the third ODI at Holkar Stadium wasn’t enough as India fell 41 runs short chasing 338.

The 9 Centuries After Which India Lost

Year	Opponent	Kohli’s Score	Margin of Defeat
2011	England	107	D/L method
2014	New Zealand	123	24 runs
2016	Australia	117	3 wickets
2016	Australia	106	25 runs
2017	New Zealand	121	6 wickets
2018	West Indies	107	43 runs
2019	Australia	123	32 runs
2025	South Africa	102	4 wickets
2026	New Zealand	124	41 runs

First Century, First Defeat
Kohli’s maiden ODI century, 107 against England on September 16, 2011, coincided with an Indian defeat. Similarly, in 2014 at Napier, he scored 123 against New Zealand, but failures in the middle order led to a 24-run loss.

Challenges Against Australia and Other Opponents
While Kohli boasts an excellent record against Australia, there were three instances—2016 (117 & 106 in consecutive matches) and 2019 (123 in Ranchi)—when his centuries could not stop Australia’s dominance. In 2017, during his 200th ODI against New Zealand in Mumbai, Kohli scored 121, yet Tom Latham and Ross Taylor’s partnership sealed India’s loss. Against West Indies in 2018, his 107 in Pune wasn’t enough as India lost by 43 runs.

A Testament to Commitment and Consistency
These nine innings illustrate Kohli’s consistency and excellence against all major opponents, even if victories didn’t follow. While these centuries were “unlucky” from a results perspective, they underscore his relentless dedication, technique, and temperament, and remain inspirational performances for fans and aspiring cricketers alike.