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Last Updated on 5 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
Virat Kohli continues to produce the goods as he peeled off a superb 74 off 51 balls in the first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park. After taking a superb one-handed catch in the slips, Kohli then formed the cornerstone of the run chase with his innings helping India reach their rain-reduced target of 143 with ease.
The 37-year-old sent another reminder of why he is one of ODI cricket’s all-time greats, playing with total freedom on a pitch where most other batter struggled for fluency. Timing was a key feature early in his stay, with a trademark wristy flick through midwicket off just his seventh delivery. 16 deliveries later, he produced arguably the shot of the day – a glorious extra cover drive on the up off Blair Tickner, who would’ve (rightly) walked back to his mark thinking he did nothing wrong.
Kohli was also ruthless on anything bowled slightly short; the kind of the length that troubled many others throughout the opening ODI. He opened his arms after multiple rain delays interruped the run chase, dancing down the track with great effect to further mess with bowlers’ lengths. He finished with 13 fours and a six in his 51-ball stay.
Earlier, New Zealand were bowled out for 185 after being sent in to bat. A number of players were out to the short ball as they struggled to deal with the extra bounce on offer. Arshdeep Singh took four wickets, but it was Gurnoor Brar (3/44 off 9.2 overs) and man of the match Anshul Kamboj (2/22 off 10 overs) who impressed most.
Rohit Sharma was out for a duck in the first over of the chase, but the Black Caps were out of contention once Kohli got into his groove.
“No other player makes batting look as easy as Virat Kohli does. On this wicket, even Shubman Gill, who has been in the form of his life, is struggling yet Virat seems to be batting on another planet. Another reason why he is best ODI batter the world has ever seen,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter).
“Virat Kohli doesn’t just play ODI cricket, he makes it look effortless. The game isn’t easy, he’s just that good. A true master of the art,” wrote another.
Here are some of the reactions.
No other player makes batting look as easy as Virat Kohli does. On this wicket, even Shubman Gill, who has been in the form of his life, is struggling yet Virat seems to be batting on another planet. Another reason why he is best ODI batter the world has ever seen. #NZvsIND
— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) November 4, 2026
Virat Kohli doesn’t just play ODI cricket, he makes it look effortless. The game isn’t easy, he’s just that good. A true master of the art. 🇮🇳👑
— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) November 4, 2026
All other batters are struggling to play on this pitch.
— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) November 4, 2026
Meanwhile, Kohli casually walks down the track to hit a boundary.
Not a single batsmen from either side has looked comfortable on this pitch… except that one dude
— tea_addIct (@on_drive2306) November 4, 2026
It's like Kohli is batting on a completely different pitch while everyone else is batting on another one. Seen this so many times before and here we are watching it happen all over again.
— Vijay Anaparthi (@VijayCricketFan) November 4, 2026
Never easy if you just play one format and that too a bilateral series once in two months and then looking so assured in the crease on challenging conditions. King Kohli for a reason.
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) November 4, 2026
Virat Kohli is just built different. Long gaps between games, yet the consistency never wavers. Makes something incredibly difficult look ridiculously easy. Truly generational 🐐
— 🌟 (@18prajakta) November 4, 2026
Can't even say Vintage Virat because this feels like a proper reinvention at this stage of his career.
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) November 4, 2026
Bhayee how does he make batting look so easy and uncomplicated? Really hope he carries on with this form till the rest of his remaining career. So delightful to watch.
— TheRandomCricketPhotosGuy (@RandomCricketP1) November 4, 2026
The man. The myth. The legend
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) November 4, 2026
Virat Kohli
🤯 pic.twitter.com/tRnVRZDQda
Virat Kohli has fooled an entire generation of cricket fans. Batting is not supposed to be this easy.
— Kanav Bali (@Concussion__Sub) November 4, 2026
Btw, let’s not forget that Kohli’s 74 came at a 145SR.
— ParteekNotPrateek (@randomcricfacts) November 4, 2026
Virat Kohli has been a monster in ODI cricket throughout his career but he has just hit another gear in the last 12 months or so.
— Prasenjiit Dey (@CricPrasen) November 4, 2026
He has scored at a SR of 116.78 in the last 14 innings while also averaging 91.09. A total of 1002 runs, including 4 hundreds and 6 Fifties. 🔥🔥
Virat Kohli is now officially a life lesson for all of us. On a pitch where batsmen have struggled he didn’t even flinch – that’s called stamping your class. He will have bad days of course, like any person, but that man does not fear failure: like I said, a life lesson#IndvsNZ…
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 4, 2026
MASTERCLASS: saw him first play nearly 20 years ago in an under 19 World Cup match. He now seems to be even fitter and more energetic than he was then. He is the Novak of cricket, a supreme batsman and champion athlete with an insatiable appetite for runs, especially in white…
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) November 4, 2026
Virat Kohli has surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the leading run-scorer in ODI run chases, scoring 8,741 runs compared to Sachin’s 8,720.
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) November 4, 2026
Kohli now leads by 21 runs, and his numbers are even more impressive when it comes to consistency and scoring rate. He averages 66.21 at…
Some people do yoga. Some people practice meditation. Some people go to therapy. Some people run marathons. I just watch Kohli bat in ODIs.
— Manya (@CSKian716) November 4, 2026
Rinse and repeat. Freak. Genius. GOAT. https://t.co/zR7bHcge4I
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) November 4, 2026
In 90 minutes the clock will tick 12 in Auckland and Virat Kohli will turn 38
— AayushKataria (@AKTalksSports) November 4, 2026
The way he is batting you are bound to believe he is still only 28 pic.twitter.com/khE9apMnht
The sound of a Kohli cover drive. You'd travel thousands of miles for it.
— Sarthak Dev (@devellix) November 4, 2026
Despite a few late wickets, India sealed a comfortable victory with 56 balls to spare (DLS). The series now moves to Wellington for the second ODI on Saturday.
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