Virat Kohli scored a brilliant century in the third ODI against New Zealand in Indore, reaching the milestone in 91 balls with eight fours and two sixes.
It was his seventh ODI hundred against the Kiwis, the most by any batter, breaking the joint record he previously shared with Ricky Ponting and Virender Sehwag. Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasurya have five centuries each.
Despite Virat Kohli’s 124 off 108 balls, New Zealand clinched a 2–1 series win with a 41-run victory in the third ODI. Chasing 338, India slipped to 71 for four and failed to recover, even with Kohli’s record 54th ODI century, along with fifties from Nitish Kumar Reddy (53) and Harshit Rana (52).
NZ script historic ODI series win in India
New Zealand sealed their first-ever ODI series win in India with a 41-run victory in the decider at Indore.
Centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106) powered the visitors to 337 for eight, which proved too much for India despite Virat Kohli’s 124, his record 54th ODI hundred. After being reduced to 58 for three, Mitchell and Phillips added a match-defining 219-run stand, while Zak Foulkes struck twice in successive balls to dismiss Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj late in the innings.
The fourth-wicket stand ended when Glenn Phillips was caught behind off Arshdeep Singh, and Daryl Mitchell fell soon after to Mohammed Siraj. However, skipper Michael Bracewell’s unbeaten 28 ensured New Zealand finished on a commanding 337. The two sides will next face off in a five-match T20I series starting January 21, ahead of the T20 World Cup beginning February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
