India began the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand with a strong chase in Vadodara. Playing at Kotambi Stadium on January 11, the Men in Blue hunted down 301. Virat Kohli guided the pursuit with 93 runs from 91 balls.
The innings secured victory and earned Kohli the Player of the Match award.
The result gave India an early lead in the series and a boost in confidence. New Zealand had set a challenging total, yet India stayed calm throughout the chase. Kohli anchored the reply with control and timing. The experienced batter kept the required rate in check, while others played around that solid base.
India vs New Zealand ODI: Virat Kohli closes in on awards record
Kohli’s latest Player of the Match performance carried extra meaning beyond the win itself. The award was Kohli’s 45th POTM in ODI cricket, keeping the batter among the format’s top match-winners. In the all-time list, Kohli now sits third. Sanath Jayasuriya holds second place with 48. Sachin Tendulkar remains first with 62 awards.
| Player | Country | ODI POTM awards | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 62 | 1 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 48 | 2 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 45 | 3 |
India vs New Zealand ODI: Kohli reflects on journey after Player of the Match
After the chase, Kohli spoke about the award and personal milestones at the presentation. Kohli explained that the volume of trophies has become hard to track. The batter also shared what those awards mean at home, before looking back on a long career.
“(How many PoTM awards does he have?) Honestly I have no idea. I just send the trophies back home to my mum in Gurgaon – she loves keeping them. (about him being the second highest run-scorer in international cricket) If I look back at my whole journey then it is nothing short of a dream come true for me. I have always known my abilities, but I also knew I had to work extremely hard to get where I am today,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
The knock against New Zealand added another chapter to that journey for Kohli and India. The 93 off 91 balls came in a pressure chase of 301 in Vadodara. With the series still underway, India now carry early momentum. The game also tightened Kohli’s pursuit of Sachin Tendulkar’s awards record.