India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the first ODI at Vadodara. A match-winning 93 earned Virat Kohli the Player of the Match award. Read full award details and ceremony highlights.

Vadodara: After India’s thrilling four-wicket win against New Zealand in the first ODI at Kotambi Stadium, Virat Kohli was named Player of the Match for his crucial innings of 93 runs. The post-match presentation ceremony took place soon after the match ended, around 9:30 PM IST.

Players, officials, and sponsors gathered on the field to acknowledge standout performances from both teams. Kohli received the award for playing a key role in India’s successful chase. This was his 65th Player of the Match award in ODIs, once again highlighting his importance in pressure situations.

Player of the Match Presentation

Virat Kohli was handed the trophy by BCCI officials and IDFC First Bank representatives, who are the series sponsors. During his speech, Kohli spoke about the team effort behind the win.

He said the chase was challenging but strong partnerships helped India stay on track. He praised the bowlers for limiting New Zealand to 300 runs and gave special credit to KL Rahul for calmly finishing the match. Kohli also mentioned that adjusting to dew conditions in the second innings was important for success.

Major Milestones During Kohli’s Innings

Kohli achieved a major milestone during his knock by crossing 28,000 international runs, becoming only the second cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to do so. This achievement was highlighted during the ceremony, with commentators applauding his consistency over the years.

His 93 runs came from 91 balls, which included eight fours and one six. He narrowly missed what would have been his 85th international century.

Captains Share Their Views

Stand-in Indian captain Shubman Gill spoke positively about the team’s performance. He said that choosing to bowl first after winning the toss worked well on the pitch. Gill praised the team’s character during the chase, especially after India lost quick wickets in the middle overs.

New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell expressed disappointment over missed chances. He said dropped catches proved costly, even though Kyle Jamieson’s bowling spell was excellent. Bracewell acknowledged India’s calm approach under pressure.

Other Noteworthy Performances

Kyle Jamieson was widely praised for his four-wicket haul (4/41), which caused India to slip from 234/2 to 242/5.

Harshit Rana also impressed with an all-round performance, taking 2 wickets for 65 runs and scoring 29 valuable runs with the bat. Despite these performances, the Player of the Match award went to Kohli for his decisive innings. No additional awards such as Best Bowler or Spirit of the Game were presented.

Match Recap During the Ceremony

The ceremony revisited key moments of the match. New Zealand posted 300/8, with Daryl Mitchell scoring 84. Their innings was built on a strong 117-run opening partnership between Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62).

India replied with 306/6 in 49 overs. Important partnerships included 118 runs between Shubman Gill (56) and Virat Kohli, and 77 runs between Kohli and Shreyas Iyer (49). KL Rahul’s unbeaten 29, featuring key boundaries in the 49th over, sealed the victory.

Team Updates and Injury Status

The ceremony also mentioned Rishabh Pant’s absence due to a side strain. In his place, KL Rahul handled wicketkeeping duties efficiently.

Shreyas Iyer’s return from injury was seen as a positive sign, especially after his useful contribution of 49 runs. No new injuries were reported after the match.

Series Outlook Going Forward

With this win, India now leads the ODI series 1–0. The next match will be played in Rajkot on January 14.

Both captains shared optimism. Gill spoke about carrying forward the momentum, while Bracewell said New Zealand would look to bounce back strongly. The victory also extended India’s ODI record against New Zealand to 63 wins in 121 matches.

Special Pre-Match Felicitation

Before the match began, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were honored with garlands in a special on-field ceremony. This recognition of their contributions to Indian cricket was briefly mentioned during the post-match presentation and was seen as a motivational moment for the team.

Also Read on jabalpur today: India Beat New Zealand by Four Wickets in 1st ODI After Thrilling Chase in Vadodara