Virat Kohli once again stood tall with the bat, delivering a masterclass century that underlined why he remains one of cricket’s finest. Although India fell short in the third ODI against New Zealand, losing the series 2–1 after a 41-run defeat, Kohli’s performance in Indore added several more milestones to his already glittering career.
Chasing a challenging target of 338, India found themselves in early trouble at 71 for four. Kohli anchored the innings with a superb 124 off 108 deliveries, marking his 54th ODI century. He found brief support from Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 53, and Harshit Rana with a brisk 52, but the required rate proved too steep. India were eventually bowled out for 296 in 46 overs.
Earlier in the match, New Zealand posted a formidable 337 for eight, thanks to commanding centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106). Their partnership laid the foundation for the visitors, while disciplined bowling later ensured India could not complete the chase.
Kohli Breaks More Records in Indore
While the result did not go India’s way, the match turned historic for Kohli. His century was his seventh ODI hundred against New Zealand, the most by any batter against the Kiwis in the format. Across all formats, he now has 10 international centuries against New Zealand, another record to his name.
The knock also brought Kohli closer to one of cricket’s most iconic milestones. With 59 List A hundreds, he now sits just one short of Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 60. On home soil, this was Kohli’s 41st international hundred, moving him within touching distance of Tendulkar’s mark of 42.
Another major achievement saw Kohli surpass Ricky Ponting to become the highest run-scorer at the No. 3 position in ODI cricket. He also became the batter with centuries at the most ODI venues, having now reached three figures at 35 different grounds.
Consistency in Pressure Situations
Kohli’s numbers in high-pressure scenarios continue to highlight his class. In bilateral ODI series deciders, he has scored 784 runs at an average of over 52. In matches involving 300-plus run chases, he has amassed more than 2,100 runs, including 10 centuries, showcasing his ability to perform when the stakes are highest.
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Although this century came in a losing cause, adding him to a short list of players with multiple hundreds in defeats, it did little to diminish the impact of his innings. Instead, it reinforced Kohli’s reputation as a relentless run-machine who keeps pushing boundaries, match after match.
As India regroups after the series loss, Kohli’s form remains a major positive — a reminder that records continue to fall whenever he walks out to bat.
