Virat Kohli once again proved to be the backbone of India's chase, crafting a brilliant 93 to guide the team to a tense four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara. While he narrowly missed a century, his innings was pivotal in chasing down a target of 301 runs with just one over to spare.
A Masterclass in Chase and a Heartfelt Dedication
After the early loss of captain Rohit Sharma, Kohli took charge with an uncharacteristically aggressive intent from the start. His 93-run knock provided the necessary momentum for the successful chase, though he was dismissed in the nineties for the seventh time in his ODI career. For his stellar performance, the 34-year-old batting maestro was awarded the Player-of-the-Match trophy.
This award marked a significant milestone, being the 45th time Kohli has received the Player-of-the-Match honour in One Day Internationals. When asked about his ever-growing collection of trophies, Kohli gave a heartfelt response that highlighted his roots and gratitude. "Honestly I have no idea," Kohli admitted. "I send it to my mum in Gurgaon, she likes to keep them."
Reflecting on a Dream Career and Staggering Records
Kohli used the moment to reflect on his incredible international journey spanning over 18 years. "If I look back at my whole journey then it is nothing short of a dream come true for me," he stated. He credited his self-belief and hard work, expressing profound gratitude for the blessings in his life. "I have always known my abilities, I have worked a lot for where I am today, God has blessed me with way too much and I have a lot of gratitude in my heart, I feel proud."
This innings in Vadodara was another chapter in what appears to be a magnificent resurgence of Kohli's peak form in the 50-over format. His current purple patch began after a rare lean spell last October. Since then, he has been on a relentless run, amassing seven consecutive scores of fifty or more, a streak that includes three centuries. This equates the Indian List A record for the most consecutive 50-plus scores.
Surpassing Legends and Cementing Legacy
The Vadodara match was also historic for Kohli's career milestones. During his innings, he surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest batter to reach 28,000 international runs, achieving the feat in just his 624th innings. Furthermore, he overtook Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in the history of international cricket across all formats.
While the overflowing collection of trophies and awards might be too many for Kohli himself to count, he has found the perfect curator for them: his mother. All the accolades from his 18-year career find a place of honour at his mother's residence in Gurugram, a humble testament to the dreams of a Delhi boy that turned into a nation's pride.
