Virat Kohli’s masterclass with the bat went in vain as Team India suffered a series-conceding 41-run defeat in the third ODI against New Zealand at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on Sunday (January 18).
Asked to bat first, the Kiwis recovered from a shaky start to rack up a formidable 337/8 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137 off 131) and Glenn Phillips (106 off 88).
In reply, India lost the opening duo of Rohit Sharma (11) and Shubman Gill (23) inside the powerplay. Shreyas Iyer (3) and KL Rahul (1) couldn’t reach double digits as the hosts slumped to 71/4.
On the day India’s top and middle order failed miserably, Virat Kohli waged a lone battle and found some support from all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana.
Kohli added 88 runs for the fifth wicket with Reddy (53 off 57), and followed it up with a 99-run stand for the seventh wicket with Rana to keep India in the hunt. In the process, the star batter slammed his record-extending 54th ODI century.
The partnership between Virat and Rana was broken in the 44th over as Zakary Foulkes dismissed the latter for 52 off 43 balls.
Kohli tried his best drag India past the winning line, but eventually perished for 124 (108 balls) while playing a lofted drive against Kristian Clarke in the 46th over. His wicket was final nail in the coffin as India’s innings folded for 296 in 46 overs, handing New Zealand their maiden ODI series win on Indian soil.
For his valiant hundred in a pressure chase, Virat Kohli received rich praise from the cricket fraternity on social media.
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