Virat Kohli came agonisingly close to his 85th international hundred before New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell produced a moment of brilliance that left the Vadodara crowd stunned during the first ODI on Sunday.
A shot that looked destined for a hundred
Chasing 301, India were cruising with Virat Kohli looking in complete control. On 93, the former India captain stepped out to loft pacer Kyle Jamieson over mid-off. For a split second, it seemed like the ball would sail over the infield and take Kohli into three figures.
Instead, New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell dived full length to his right and plucked a sensational catch, silencing the stadium instantly.
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Vadodara stunned, then rises as one
The crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Vadodara went quiet for a few seconds, processing what they had just witnessed. Moments later, the stands erupted in applause as Kohli walked back, acknowledging the fans who had come hoping to see history.
Kohli’s innings of 93 off 91 balls was classy and composed, anchoring the chase after early wickets and putting India firmly on course for victory.
Calm control after Rohit’s early exit
Kohli walked in with India at 39/1 following Rohit Sharma’s dismissal. From there, he dictated terms, rotating strike with ease and punishing loose deliveries. He brought up his half-century in just 44 balls, showcasing the fluent form he has carried for months.
After Shubman Gill’s departure, Kohli briefly dropped his strike rate to steady the innings before shifting gears again as the target came closer.
Record-breaking night despite missing the ton
Even without the century, the knock was historic. Kohli crossed 28,000 international runs during the innings, becoming the fastest to reach the milestone in just 624 innings, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record of 644 innings.
He also overtook Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history. Tendulkar remains on top with 34,357 runs.
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Kohli’s golden run continues at 37
At 37, Kohli is enjoying a remarkable purple patch. He has now scored 65 or more in each of his last seven innings across formats, including two ODI hundreds and another century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26.
The elusive 85th ton will have to wait, but if this innings was any indication, it doesn’t look far away.
