The fast bowler claimed five wickets, and despite Kohli’s exceptional 95, he narrowly missed achieving his 49th ODI century as the home team secured a 4-wicket victory over New Zealand.
The early dismissals of India’s in-form openers in a demanding run chase didn’t faze him. Nor did a mix-up with Suryakumar Yadav, even as India still required 83 runs to win with five wickets remaining. Not even an unexpected fog interruption, just a few deliveries into his innings, could deter his determination.
It was inconsequential because Virat Kohli, a one-day cricket giant, consistently accumulates match-winning runs with a determined gaze and elegant strokes. Kohli’s splendid performance (95 off 104 balls) at the HPCA Stadium against New Zealand on Sunday ensured India chased down 274 with four wickets to spare and two overs remaining.
This achievement propels India to the top of the points table, securing a flawless record of five victories in as many matches. Mohammed Shami contributed significantly with a five-wicket haul, while Daryl Mitchell’s century for New Zealand proved to be in vain.
Kohli’s departure at 95, instead of an unbeaten finish, was a result of his ambitious pursuit of a 49th ODI century, which would have equaled him with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Even when only five runs were required from 16 balls, Kohli chose not to take a single to deep square leg, a testament to his remarkable innings in challenging circumstances.
The match teetered on a delicate balance when India lost their fifth wicket at 191 runs in the 33.5th over. Kohli, although somewhat culpable for it, was momentarily distracted, even though Mitchell Santner played a crucial role in Suryakumar’s run-out with an exceptional stop and rapid throw from extra cover.
In such situations, Kohli’s mastery shines through. He orchestrated a crucial 78-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, steering India towards the brink of an exhilarating victory.
Kohli’s innings displayed a supreme level of quality. He marked his entry with a breathtaking square drive against pacer Lockie Ferguson and maintained control throughout. Kohli stepped in following a robust opening partnership of 71 runs between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Sharma showcased his expected fluency, collecting three fours and a six in the initial three overs to calm India’s dressing room nerves. Although there were the occasional misbehaving deliveries, both Sharma and Gill exhibited unwavering confidence in their execution. For instance, when Henry beat Sharma’s outside edge in the second over, Sharma confidently advanced down the pitch, sending the next delivery over the long-on boundary.
With the ball showing limited swing under the evening lights, Trent Boult, typically a potent threat from over the wicket to right-handers, decided to alter his angle of attack. However, this adjustment didn’t deter Sharma, who continued to showcase his impeccable timing against the left-arm pacer. Gill’s drives were equally splendid. Just as India appeared to be cruising in yet another run chase, Ferguson made an impact. Although his delivery was less than ideal, being full and wide, Sharma’s half-hearted drive led to him playing onto the stumps.
Both Gill and Iyer, despite promising starts, failed to capitalize. Gill fell to Ferguson while attempting an uppercut, and Iyer, not for the first time, perished after mishitting a pull shot to deep square leg.
With the score at 128/3, Kohli and KL Rahul, the duo that previously rescued India against the Aussies, joined forces once more. They established yet another formidable partnership, with Kohli setting the tone through astute decision-making and impeccable timing. Rahul, reinvigorated after his injury layoff, displayed similar solidity, exemplified by a crisp four through point against Ferguson’s extra pace.
However, on the very first delivery of the 33rd over, another dramatic turn of events unfolded as Rahul advanced out of his crease against Santner’s left-arm spin for a defensive shot. The bat made contact with the ball nearly simultaneously with it striking his front pad, leading to the umpire’s initial not-out decision for a leg-before appeal. Yet, New Zealand’s decision to review the call proved correct, and India’s No. 5 had to make his exit. The intrigue continued with Suryakumar’s run-out.
The balance of the match also swayed back and forth during New Zealand’s innings. India’s execution with the new ball was impeccable, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj relentlessly delivering a probing good length. This precision limited New Zealand to just three boundaries in the opening eight overs, with two of them being fortuitous shots through the third man region.
The early pressure took its toll on Devon Conway. Having faced eight balls without a scoring opportunity, the left-handed opener seized the chance when a delivery on the leg stump appeared. He attempted an aerial flick in search of a boundary, but Iyer held onto an outstanding catch at square leg. After eight overs, Sharma introduced Shami, who hadn’t played in the first four games, for the first time that day, and the pacer promptly dismissed Will Young.
With the score at 34/2 after 10 overs, it was evident that New Zealand needed to pick up the pace. Mitchell’s arrival signaled a more aggressive approach. While his first boundary, a thick inside edge past a vacant fine leg against Siraj, was somewhat fortunate, his next shot was a resounding thump over mid-on against Shami. He continued to either advance down the pitch or change his stance while facing the seamers.
The significant shift in New Zealand’s approach, however, materialized during the 19th over, which was Kuldeep Yadav’s second. With a clear understanding of the conditions, Ravindra took charge by hitting a six that precisely split the fielders at long-off and long-on. Mitchell followed suit just three balls later, sending the ball soaring over wide long-on for the second six of a 16-run over. The left-arm wrist spinner had conceded 23 runs in his first two overs, experiencing pressure for the first time in this tournament.
Jadeja maintained his economy but didn’t pose a substantial threat to the New Zealand duo. They skillfully gathered singles and occasionally found boundaries to sustain a healthy run rate. Once Mitchell reached his fifty, he lofted Jadeja down the ground for yet another six.
His strategy against the spinners proved highly effective. He confidently utilized his footwork, favoring shots in the region from long-off to long-on, often aiming for early boundaries in an over. As the partnership flourished, the Indians grew increasingly desperate for a breakthrough, and fielding mistakes began to surface. Mitchell had two chances, being dropped twice, first by Rahul at 59 off Jadeja and later by Bumrah at 69 off Kuldeep.
The partnership was finally broken by Shami, who had Ravindra caught at long-on. While Mitchell went on to compile a well-crafted century, they couldn’t fully capitalize on their excellent partnership. The last seven wickets fell for just 95 runs as India, inspired by Shami’s five-wicket haul, fought their way back into this thrilling contest.
