Virat Kohli’s extraordinary century, marked by his signature determination under intense pressure, was heartbreakingly not enough as India faced their first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand, losing the decisive match by 41 runs at Holkar Stadium on Sunday. Kohli’s impressive 124 off 108 balls showcased his blend of aggression and mental strength. As wickets fell around him, he took on the responsibility of the chase, responding to New Zealand’s disciplined bowling with sharp drives, well-timed pulls, and calculated aerial shots. However, after his dismissal late in the innings, India’s resistance crumbled, finishing at 296 in 46 overs while chasing a challenging target of 338. This defeat not only secured a 2-1 series victory for New Zealand but also marked a significant milestone—India had never lost a home ODI series to the Kiwis before. Earlier, Daryl Mitchell’s second consecutive century, along with Glenn Phillips’s explosive ton, propelled New Zealand to a formidable 337-8, despite early strikes from India’s bowlers. The duo’s 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket completely transformed the match’s momentum. At one point, India had New Zealand reeling at 58-3, but Mitchell and Phillips turned the tide. Notably, Mitchell became the first player to notch five consecutive scores of over 80 in ODIs against India in India. Their partnership is now the highest by any New Zealand pair in ODIs against India on Indian soil. Kohli’s century was his first in Indore, surpassing his previous best of 36 in four ODIs, and he has now amassed 12,676 runs batting at No. 3 in ODIs—the highest in history, overtaking Ricky Ponting’s 12,662 runs.
