A rare and emotional moment unfolded at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Wednesday night when an overzealous fan managed to evade security and sprint onto the field to hug Virat Kohli during the second ODI between India and New Zealand. The unexpected gesture briefly caught the former India captain off guard, but Kohli’s calm, composed reaction won hearts once again as he urged the security officials to handle the situation gently and avoid manhandling the pitch invader. His humane response quickly went viral, reinforcing why he remains one of the most admired figures in world cricket.
However, the incident took an unfortunate turn after the fan was escorted off the ground. A video circulating on social media later showed a security official slapping the intruder for breaching protocol, drawing criticism and raising questions around crowd management at international venues.
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On the cricketing front, it was a disappointing night for India as New Zealand registered a convincing seven-wicket victory to level the three-match ODI series 1-1. Chasing a competitive target of 285, the visitors displayed composure and clarity in their approach, sealing the match with 15 balls to spare. The series decider is scheduled to be played on Sunday in Indore.
During the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI, a fan of Virat Kohli jumped the fence at the Rajkot Stadium to meet him.
The security personnels caught the fan and beat him badly. 😅😭 pic.twitter.com/QrdnJeHo7e
— Jara (@JARA_Memer) January 14, 2026
Virat Kohli, who has been in impressive form throughout the series, looked fluent early on and opened his innings with a crisp boundary. However, on a challenging surface that offered assistance to the bowlers, he was dismissed for 23 as New Zealand kept the Indian batting line-up under pressure.
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KL Rahul was the standout performer for India, anchoring the innings with a well-crafted century—his eighth in ODIs for India. Captain Shubman Gill also continued his consistency, registering his second successive fifty to help India post 284/7.
New Zealand’s chase was led by Daryl Mitchell, who once again proved to be India’s nemesis. Mitchell remained unbeaten on 131 off 117 deliveries, while Will Young’s composed 87 played a crucial role in their commanding 162-run third-wicket partnership.
