Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli delivered a masterful, match-winning performance in the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara, but post-match discussions veered towards an uncomfortable fan phenomenon and his own philosophy on personal milestones.
Kohli's Discomfort with Fan Reactions
Kohli, who scored a brilliant 93 runs to guide India to a 4-wicket victory, was asked about the crowd's tendency to cheer when the batter preceding him gets out, a scenario that played out as he waited for captain Rohit Sharma to return to the pavilion before walking in. The former captain made his feelings on the matter unequivocally clear.
"I honestly don’t feel good about it," Kohli stated candidly. He revealed this was not a new experience, having witnessed similar reactions during the era of MS Dhoni. "I’ve seen it with MS too. I understand the crowd get excited. I just try to keep the focus on the game," he added, acknowledging fan enthusiasm while emphasizing his need for professional concentration.
Team First: The Mindset Behind the 93-Run Knock
Falling just seven runs short of what would have been his 54th ODI century, Kohli was named Player of the Match. When questioned about missing the personal landmark, he reiterated a team-centric approach that has become his hallmark in recent years.
"If I am being brutally honest then I am not thinking about the milestones," Kohli asserted. He explained that the chase situation dictated his innings. "I would have gone hard if we were batting first, the experience does matter. The only thing was to get the team into a good position in the chase."
He detailed his strategy upon entering at number 3: "The basic idea is I bat at number 3, I back myself to counterattack. I just walked in and felt I could put the opposition on the back foot." His 93-run partnership with Shubman Gill and later efforts with Shreyas Iyer effectively sealed the game for India.
Another Major Batting Milestone Crossed
Beyond the match context, the game in Vadodara was historically significant for Kohli. During his innings, he became the fastest player ever to score 28,000 international runs across all formats.
He achieved this feat in his 624th innings, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who reached the mark in his 644th innings. Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara, the only other member of this elite club, took 666 innings. Kohli entered the match needing 25 runs and reached the milestone with a boundary off New Zealand leg-spinner Adithya Ashok.
This is the latest in a series of rapid run-accumulation records for Kohli:
- February 2023: Fastest to 25,000 runs (549 innings).
- October 2023: Fastest to 26,000 runs.
- September 2024: Reached 27,000 runs in his 594th innings.
He now stands as the second-highest international run-scorer behind Tendulkar's 34,357 runs. Despite these staggering numbers, Kohli's post-match comments reaffirmed that his primary drive remains winning matches for India, a sentiment that resonated after a crucial series-opening victory.
