Kohli slammed 93 off 91 balls with 8 fours and 1 six to help India chase 301 in the first ODI.
Virat Kohli starred with the bat in India’s four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at BCA Stadium, Vadodara on Sunday (January 11).
Chasing 301 to win, Kohli slammed 93 off 91 balls with 8 fours and 1 six to help the hosts overhaul the target with an over to spare.
During the innings, the 37-year-old also scaled 28,000 runs across all formats and became the second-highest run-getter in international cricket, surpassing Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara.
As Kohli scripted another win over the team in ODIs, former India head coach Ravi Shastri opened up on star batter’s unmatched discipline and work ethic, highlighting some of the traits behind his success.
“The single-mindedness, the hunger. The willingness to push that body to the limits. And I have seen that in my time when I was with the team, his work ethic was probably second to none," Shastri said while commentating.
“I have seen just the way he goes about his job, the number of catches he takes in the morning, the catches in the outfield and the throws into the keeper’s gloves. Apart from his batting and everything else, it is a routine," he added.
Virat Kohli was adjudged Player of the Match for his innings, which gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
At the post-match presentation, the batting stalwart was asked if he himself knew how many ‘Player of the Match’ awards he has, to which Kohli replied, “Honestly, I have no idea. I send it to my mom in Gurgaon; she likes to keep them."
The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played in Rajkot on Wednesday (January 14).