Virat Kohli delivered a memorable performance against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on the eve of his 38th birthday, scoring a match-winning 74 off 51 balls. His innings featured 13 boundaries and a six, helping India secure a five-wicket victory in the rain-affected encounter and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Kohli’s calculated approach during the chase earned praise from former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who was particularly impressed by the batter’s shot selection and awareness of the field placements.
Speaking on Sony Sports, Gavaskar explained how Kohli consistently identified gaps and adjusted his shots according to the positioning of the fielders. The cricket legend highlighted that the right-handed batter took calculated risks whenever the field allowed him to play aerial shots.
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“When there was no fielder in the deep, he played it in the air. So there was no risk. When there was a fielder in the deep, he played along the ground. He knew where the fielder was, and that’s extremely important. You have to hit the ball far from the fielder,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
The former India opener also praised Kohli’s technical execution, particularly his ability to use his hands differently depending on the shot he wanted to play. He pointed out the strength of Kohli’s bottom hand while targeting the leg side and his reliance on the top hand when playing drives through the off side.
“His bottom-hand game is extremely strong. He uses the top hand when he drives on the off side. When he plays on the on side, he plays a lot with the bottom hand. He batted extremely well. Tomorrow (November 5) is his birthday, and he gave a gift to the fans,” Sunil Gavaskar added.
Kohli’s innings also featured an important 113-run partnership with Shubman Gill, who contributed 37 runs. Their second-wicket stand provided India with the momentum needed to stay ahead in the DLS-adjusted chase.
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During the knock, Kohli also registered his 80th ODI half-century, reaching the milestone in just 35 balls. Additionally, he moved level with Australian legend Ricky Ponting on 1,971 ODI runs against New Zealand. With his timing, shot selection and understanding of the field, Kohli once again demonstrated why he remains one of the most effective batters in the format.
