Kohli's Stellar Performance Leads India to Victory Over New Zealand
Kohli's Masterclass Secures Victory
Shreyas Iyer praised his teammate Virat Kohli following an impressive 93-run innings that propelled India to chase down a 301-run target against New Zealand. This thrilling encounter took place on Sunday at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, marking the beginning of a three-match series. Kohli's innings, which consisted of 93 runs off 91 balls, was pivotal in securing a four-wicket victory for India, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series. During his innings, the 37-year-old smashed eight fours and one six.
Record-Breaking Form Continues
This match highlighted Kohli's remarkable form, as it was his 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 achieved three centuries, including two in ODIs and one in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His recent scores are as follows: 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 Sachin Tendulkar. Currently, Kohli has amassed 28,068 runs in 557 matches, maintaining an average of 52.66, with 84 centuries to his name.
Iyer: 'He Walks the Talk'
In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Shreyas Iyer commended Kohli's performance, emphasizing his consistent excellence, adept strike rotation, and aggressive approach against bowlers. Iyer remarked, "Whatever we say about Virat Kohli's innings is an understatement. He has been delivering consistently for years. His ability to rotate the strike and challenge bowlers is remarkable. He truly walks the talk."
'Great Start for the Series': Iyer on Comeback
Iyer also shared his thoughts on returning to the Indian team and starting the series with a victory. He expressed his joy at rejoining the squad and described the win as a "great start" to the series. "It feels wonderful to be back in the team after some time. Sharing the dressing room with everyone again is a fantastic feeling. I missed it for a while, but I am thrilled to be back," Iyer stated.