Virat Kohli was named player of the match after a 91-ball 93 that steered India to a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, handing the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Asked at the post-match presentation whether he knew how many player-of-the-match awards he has collected, Kohli smiled and joked that he passes them on to his mother in Gurgaon, who likes to keep them.
The exchange was typically modest, but his words quickly turned reflective. He spoke about gratitude and hard work, saying the journey has been “nothing short of a dream come true” and that he feels blessed and proud to be in this position. Virat Kohli underlined that personal milestones are secondary to the team’s cause.
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Batting at No. 3, he said he backs himself to take the game to the opposition and put them under pressure: “The only thing was to get the team into a good position in the chase. I back myself to counterattack.” He acknowledged that timing varies from match to match and that even greats like MS Dhoni have off days, stressing the importance of staying present and adapting to the situation.
🗣️ If I look back at my whole journey, it’s nothing short of a dream come true. ✨
🎥 Virat Kohli reflects on his incredible career after becoming the 2⃣nd highest run-getter in men’s international cricket🙌👏#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @imVkohli | @idfcfirstbank pic.twitter.com/87BgcZlx4b
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2026
The knock carried special significance as Kohli crossed the 28,000-run mark in international cricket during the innings, reaching the landmark in just 624 innings, quicker than both Sachin Tendulkar (644 innings) and Kumar Sangakkara (666 innings) to that milestone.
With the match tally, Kohli’s aggregate climbed to 28,017 runs, edging past Sangakkara’s 28,016 to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket behind Tendulkar’s 34,357.
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Although he fell seven runs short of a well-deserved century, Kohli’s composed masterclass laid the foundation for the chase. Support from KL Rahul and Harshit Rana in the lower order helped close out the game, but it was Kohli’s leadership with the willow that once again reminded everyone why he is the heartbeat of India’s batting line-up, capable of lifting crowds and teammates alike with his performances.
