Indore, Jan 18 (.) Virat Kohli once again showcased why he is the master of high-pressure chases, but India’s batting stalwart couldn’t prevent New Zealand from winning the third and final ODI by 41 runs to win the series 2-1 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium here.
Chasing 338, Kohli led from the front with a scintillating 124 off 108 balls, combining power and precision in a display of sheer class. The innings marked another landmark in Kohli’s illustrious career in bilateral ODI series deciders. In 16 such innings, he has now scored 784 runs at an average of 52.26 with two centuries and six fifties, underlining his reputation as India’s go-to batsman in crunch matches.
Kohli’s dominance is even more pronounced in 300-plus run chases. Over 37 innings, he has scored 2,131 runs at an extraordinary average of 62.67, striking at 106.4, including 10 centuries and nine fifties. These numbers highlight his ability to handle immense pressure and turn challenging chases into achievable targets.
The Indore innings also extended Kohli’s record for most ODI hundreds at different venues. He now has 35 centuries across grounds worldwide, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 34, and leaving Rohit Sharma (26), Ricky Ponting (21), Hashim Amla (21), and AB de Villiers (21) trailing. Against New Zealand across formats, Kohli has scored 10 centuries in 73 innings, ahead of Jacques Kallis (9 in 76), Joe Root (9 in 71), and Tendulkar (9 in 80).
Despite Kohli’s heroics, India fell short. Nitish Kumar Reddy made 53, Harshit Rana 52, and Ravindra Jadeja 12, but the lower order failed to maintain the required run rate, and India were bowled out for 296 in 46 overs. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana shared three wickets each, while Zakary Foulkes and Kristian Clarke also claimed three apiece.
New Zealand’s victory was built on outstanding performances by Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106), who stitched together a 219-run partnership to take their side from 5 for 2 to a commanding total of 337 for 8. The win marked New Zealand’s first bilateral ODI series triumph in India in eight attempts since 1988, ending India’s 13-match home ODI winning streak after winning the toss.
Kohli’s innings, though in vain, reinforced his status as a titan of limited-overs cricket, particularly in high-stakes chases, and a nightmare for bowlers under pressure.
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