Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has made a strong statement about Virat Kohli following India’s five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening ODI at Eden Park, Auckland. The former batter credited Kohli for taking complete control of the run chase, suggesting that the match could have become much closer had the veteran batter been dismissed earlier. India secured a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series after rain interruptions reduced the contest to 32 overs.

Chasing a revised target of 143 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, India relied heavily on Kohli, who produced an outstanding 74 off just 51 deliveries. The former India captain struck 13 boundaries and a six, maintaining an aggressive approach despite the challenging batting conditions. However, India experienced a brief collapse following Kohli’s dismissal before eventually completing the chase.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Mohammad Kaif pointed out that Kohli’s contribution was the biggest difference between the two sides. He also questioned why several Indian batters struggled despite having already spent considerable time in New Zealand during the preceding T20I series. “If Kohli had gotten out, the game could have gone deeper, as we saw a mini collapse after his wicket. He made 74, and the second-highest was 37. If a lot of people think ODI cricket is easy, what were the other batters doing in this game?” Kaif said.

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He further highlighted how Kohli managed to dominate the proceedings despite not having played competitive cricket for around a month. According to Kaif, the veteran batter’s recent performances have silenced those who questioned his place in the Indian team.

“There seems to be no pressure on his face when he bats. He is enjoying and playing. Those who created pressure on him will be ashamed now for saying his time was over. He is taking one-handed catches, fielding, chasing and doing his role. If you look at his last 15 innings, no one is playing better than him in the world right now,” he added.

Kaif also praised Kohli’s involvement in the game, highlighting how his communication, energy and body language influence the entire Indian dressing room. He specifically mentioned the stunning one-handed catch Kohli took in the slips, which reflected his concentration and commitment on the field.

“Kohli keeps talking and has eye contact with players. Many people think what is he doing? But this is his way of playing. The one-handed catch he took is also because he keeps himself so involved in the game, be it in fielding or batting. He is the chase master, has great body language and changes the entire environment. No other player can bring the effect on the team’s energy as he does,” Mohammad Kaif explained.

Meanwhile, Indian captain Shubman Gill scored 37 runs off 56 deliveries, including five boundaries. Although his scoring rate was considerably slower than Kohli’s, Mohammad Kaif refused to criticise the young captain, considering the difficult conditions and relatively modest target. The former cricketer also pointed out a technical difference between the two batters, particularly their ability to handle deliveries that rise sharply from the surface.

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“Shubman Gill has good numbers in ODIs. He did well against the West Indies. I will not think too much about him, as it was the first game and a difficult pitch. As the run rate was not too high, he was taking his time, so I think that was okay,” Kaif stated. He further explained that Gill sometimes struggles to control deliveries that generate considerable bounce, whereas Kohli’s technique allows him to remain more comfortable on such surfaces. According to Kaif, this difference in their batting approach was particularly noticeable during India’s successful chase in Auckland.