Virat Kohli walked back to a standing ovation from the Indian dressing room after producing a valiant knock that nearly kept India alive in a tense chase against New Zealand in the third ODI at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore.
Chasing a daunting 337, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but Kohli stood firm, absorbing pressure and counter-attacking when needed. He brought up his 54th ODI century, an innings marked by composure, timing, and sheer determination, as partners fell around him. Cameras repeatedly showed members of the Indian dressing room applauding and urging him on, fully aware that the chase hinged almost entirely on his bat.
At 292/9 in 45.4 overs, India were still fighting, with Kohli pushing hard to keep the equation within reach. However, his dismissal for 124 off 108 balls, caught by Daryl Mitchell off Kristian Clarke, proved to be the decisive moment. Once Kohli fell, New Zealand firmly seized control, despite India still needing 46 runs from 26 balls at that stage.
Earlier, New Zealand had posted 337/8, riding on centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. While India eventually fell short, Kohli’s effort stood out as a reminder of his relentless mindset — a lone, impressive battle that earned respect, applause, and a bittersweet end on a dramatic night in Indore.
The crowd had finally found its voice after three successive boundaries, hope briefly returning to the Holkar Cricket Stadium. But moments later, silence took over again as reality sank in — the match was slipping away, and with it, the series.
MOMENT –
On 45.4 overs, the decisive moment arrived. Virat Kohli, who had carried India’s chase almost single-handedly, perished while trying to force the issue. Kristian Clarke rolled his fingers over a 130.9 kph pace-off delivery on a full length, and Kohli’s bat slightly turned on impact as he shaped for the lofted drive. The shot had more height than distance, and Daryl Mitchell calmly settled under the skier to complete the catch.
Kohli’s dismissal for 124 off 108 balls, studded with 10 fours and 3 sixes, brought an immediate hush across the ground. The Indian dressing room rose to applaud, acknowledging a magnificent innings played under immense pressure. Fans stood up as well, not in celebration, but in respect — fully aware that this was the end of India’s resistance.
