The scoreboard may say India lost the ODI series 1-2 to New Zealand but the bigger picture tells a different story — one dominated by Virat Kohli. At a time when the team struggled to find rhythm and consistency, Kohli once again stood out as India’s most reliable performer, reminding everyone why he remains central to Indian cricket’s identity.
Across the three-match series, Virat Kohli piled up 240 runs, finishing as India’s top scorer. His tally included a century and a half-century, numbers that stood tall in a series where most batters found it hard to convert starts. Even as India failed to close out matches, Kohli’s hunger and intensity never dipped.
The defining moment came in Indore during a steep chase of 338. Virat Kohli played one of his finest ODI innings, crafting a brilliant 124 that showcased timing, control and sheer determination. It was a knock that brought hope to millions of fans, even though India eventually fell short in the final ODI. Still, the innings underlined Kohli’s unmatched ability to rise when the challenge is at its toughest.
Virat Kohli’s series scores of 93, 23 and 124 kept him firmly in the spotlight. Each time he crossed the fifty-run mark, social media lit up — not just in praise but also in response to earlier criticism from former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar. Manjrekar had recently questioned Kohli’s decision to step away from Test cricket while continuing in ODIs, suggesting the format was less demanding.
That remark did not go down well with fans and it also drew a sharp reaction from Virat Kohli’s family. After Kohli reached another historic milestone with his 54th ODI century and 85th international hundred, his brother Vikas Kohli took to social media, took a jibe at Sanjay Manjrekar while pointing out that performing consistently at the highest level is never easy, regardless of format.
Vikas Kohli wrote, “I wonder if Mr Expert of cricket has some suggestions for the easiest form of cricket. You need to be there to do that. Anyways, as I said, Easier said than done”.
Virat Kohli’s recent form only strengthens that argument. In his last six ODIs, he has scored three centuries and two fifties, along with impressive outings in domestic cricket for Delhi. Any doubts about his motivation after retiring from Tests have been answered clearly — with runs.
Virat Kohli’s next international assignment will be India’s ODI tour of England in July 2026. Before that, he will shift focus to the IPL, where he will aim to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru defend their title, continuing a career that still refuses to slow down.
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