Shreyas Iyer Celebrates Virat Kohli's Stellar Performance in India's Victory Over New Zealand
Kohli's Remarkable Innings Leads India to Victory
Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], January 12: Shreyas Iyer expressed admiration for his teammate Virat Kohli following the legendary batsman's impressive 93-run performance, which was pivotal in India's successful chase of a 301-run target against New Zealand during the first match of their three-match series at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara.
Kohli's innings of 93 runs off 91 deliveries played a crucial role in securing a four-wicket victory for India, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series. The 37-year-old cricketer struck eight fours and one six during his innings.
This achievement marked Kohli's seventh consecutive score of fifty or more in One Day Internationals (ODIs) since the third match of the ODI series in Australia back in October 2025. Out of these seven innings, he has recorded three centuries, including two in ODIs and one in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His recent scores include: 93, 77, 131, 65*, 102, 135, and 74*.
With this latest performance, Kohli surpassed Kumar Sangakkara's record of 28,016 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket across all formats, trailing only behind Sachin Tendulkar. Currently, Kohli has amassed 28,068 runs in 557 matches, boasting an average of 52.66 and 84 centuries out of 146 innings.
In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Shreyas Iyer commended Kohli's innings, emphasizing his consistent excellence, adept strike rotation, and aggressive approach against bowlers, stating that Kohli truly 'walks the talk.'
"No matter how much we discuss Virat Kohli's innings, it never feels enough. We have witnessed his consistency over the years. His ability to rotate the strike and challenge bowlers is remarkable. He genuinely walks the talk," Iyer remarked in the video.
Iyer also shared his thoughts on returning to the Indian team and starting the series with a win, expressing his joy at being back in the squad and enjoying the camaraderie in the dressing room. He described the victory as a 'great start' to the series.
"It's a fantastic beginning for the series. Coming back to the team after some time feels wonderful. More than anything, it was a joy to reunite with everyone in the dressing room. I missed it for a while, but I'm thrilled to be back," Iyer added.