Kohli Shines but Misses Century as India Thrills Past New Zealand
What a night in Vadodara! India has edged past New Zealand by four wickets in a nail-biting first ODI and the story of the match, of course, was Virat Kohli. The 37-year-old batting legend came agonizingly close to his 54th ODI hundred, scoring a sublime 93 with eight crisp boundaries and a massive six. The crowd held its breath as he approached the milestone and while Kyle Jamieson ended his innings just short, the applause for Kohli was deafening. And there’s more to celebrate—Kohli has now become the second-highest run scorer in international cricket across all formats, surpassing Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara with 28,068 runs. Only Sachin Tendulkar stands above him.
India’s chase of 301 wasn’t straightforward. New Zealand had built a solid platform, with Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls putting on 117 for the first wicket. But Harshit Rana struck back with two quick wickets, shifting momentum. Still, the Black Caps’ middle order kept them competitive, thanks largely to Daryl Mitchell’s 84 and Kristian Clarke’s late flourish, setting a challenging total of 300.
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The Indian innings began shakily. Rohit Sharma fell for 26, but Shubman Gill and Kohli steadied the ship with a 118-run partnership. Gill contributed a patient 56 but had to retire briefly with a back injury. Then Jamieson turned the tide with a fiery spell, removing Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer in a single over, leaving India teetering at 242 for 5.
Enter Harshit Rana again, who counterattacked brilliantly and kept India in the hunt, scoring 29 before getting caught. But it was KL Rahul who held his nerve, finishing unbeaten on 29 and guiding India home with two fours and a six in the penultimate over. The match ended in a thrilling victory for India, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series ahead of the second ODI in Rajkot.
This win is more than just a series opener—it’s a reminder of India’s depth and resilience. Kohli’s record-breaking feats, combined with Rahul’s calm under pressure, show a team peaking at the right time as they focus on World Cup preparations. New Zealand will need to regroup quickly if they want to turn the series around.
For cricket fans, it was a rollercoaster of emotions: heartbreak, celebration and pure cricketing brilliance all in one evening. And as the teams look ahead to Rajkot, the excitement is only building. India has set the stage—now it’s up to New Zealand to answer.
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