New Delhi: Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli once again etched his name into cricketing history during the third and final ODI against New Zealand at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday.
In a thrilling chase of 337 runs, Kohli played a masterclass innings, scoring 124 off 108 balls to register his 54th one-day international century— and, notably, the most by any batter against New Zealand in ODIs.
Kohli’s composed knock came in the face of early setbacks for India. After the senior batters tumbled with regularity, the experienced veteran steadied the innings, building crucial partnerships —including an 88‑run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy — to keep India in the hunt. Eight fours and two sixes marked his century, which he reached in the 40th over, demonstrating both grit and controlled aggression.
Despite Kohli’s brilliance, India’s chase ultimately fell short. New Zealand’s bowlers held firm in the late stages, restricting the hosts to 296 all out and sealing a 41‑run victory for the visitors. The win not only clinched the ODI series 2–1 for New Zealand — their first bilateral ODI series triumph on Indian soil — but also highlighted the growing depth in Kiwi cricket.
For Kohli, this century is another addition to an already stellar international record. His reputation as one of the most reliable run-scorers in the modern game has been further cemented, in addition to rewriting the ODI record books. While his efforts couldn’t swing the match in India’s favour, the innings were a testament to his unwavering class and hunger for big scores.