Internet Desk: India skipper Virat Kohli showed his pure class again today on his milestone 200th ODI game as India posted a good total of 280 for 8 on board against New Zealand in the first of three-match ODI series at the Wankhede Stadium today.
Kohli played a captain’s knock of 121 runs from just 125 deleveries to score his 31st ODI ton and surpassed legendary Australian skipper Ricky Ponting to become the second highest ton-getter in 50-over format. He is now just behind his idol and legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar who has 49 ODI hundreds.
Hitting nine boundaries and two sixes — including a majestic bowler’s back drive to reach his fifty, Kohli became the second player behind AB de Villiers’ to reach three-figure mark in his 200th game.
While Kohli has had some regal knocks in the ODI format over the years, the energy sapping humidity and the slowness of the track made batting difficult.
Coming to bat in the fourth over, Kohli was finally dismissed in the 50th over after he had successfully steered his team to safety after they were reduced to 71 for 3 in just shade above 15 overs.
Credit should also be given to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose unbeaten cameo of 26 off 15 balls helped India cross the 275- run mark.
The two significant partnerships were a 73-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik (37 off 47 balls), who got out after getting set and and 57 for the fifth wicket with Mahendra Singh Dhoni (25 runs off 42 balls).
Hardik Pandya (16) had a rare off-day by his standards.
With India losing both the openers early, Kohli showed a different approach, by taking considerable time to settle, initially dealing in ones and twos, and then taking the Kiwi bowlers to task.
After a cautious start, Kohli hit a cover drive in the 11th over and followed it up with two consecutive boundaries in the 15th over off Colin De Grandhomme.
The skipper, was lucky to get a reprieve on 29, after Mitchell Santner dropped a straight forward chance at cover off De Grandhomme.
There was no looking back for the Indian skipper after that as he punished pacer Adam Milne, hittig him for a six over long leg.
It was Trent Boult, who gave the Kiwis early breakthroughs, removing Shikhar Dhawan (9 off 12 balls) and Rohit Sharma (20 off 18 balls) cheaply on a Wankhede pitch which had spongy bounce and ball was holding up a bit.
Boult lived up to his reputation and got the ball to swing and seam. Dhawan nicked one to ‘keeper Tom Latham in the fourth over, with the hosts 16-1.
Boult then cleaned up Sharma in his next over, as he got the ball to come into the right-hander leaving India struggling at 29/2.
Rohit pulled Southee for consecutive sixes but the Mumbai batsman failed to convert his start. For the Kiwis, Boult (4- 35) was the pick of the bowlers as he later removed Dhoni and Pandya.