Shooting Cooper Connolly: Australia’s 22-year-old star
Most hundreds vs. New Zealand (ODI)7 – Virat Kohli (36 inns)*6 – Ricky Ponting (50 Inns)6 – Virender Sehwag (23 inns)5 – Sachin Tendulkar (41 Inns)5 – Sanath Jayasuriya (45 Inns) Kohli also climbed to the top of another elite list. He now has the most ODI hundreds against New Zealand, with seven centuries in just 36 innings. Only Ricky Ponting and Virender Sehwag came close, with six each, while legends Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya finished with five. The century came at a critical moment. India were reeling at 71 for four after New Zealand posted a terrifying 337 for eight. On a wicket that required composure, Kohli opted for control and persistence. He raised his set with a single off Zak Foulkes in the last ball of the 40th over, hitting eight fours and two sixes in a 91-ball innings. It marked a landmark across formats and conditions. This was Kohli’s 85th international century, his 54th in ODIs, his 41st on Indian soil and his seventh against New Zealand. He now has seven or more ODI hundreds against five different opponents, including 10 against Sri Lanka, nine against the West Indies, eight against Australia and seven each against South Africa and New Zealand. After missing out on a hundred in the series opener in Vadodara, where he fell for 93, Kohli made sure it didn’t happen again. He held one end tight and built a partnership that dragged India back into the contest. The revival began with Nitish Kumar Reddy scoring 53. Their 88-run stand for the fifth wicket restored faith before Kohli stepped up further alongside Harshit Rana. The pair added 99 runs in just 69 balls with Rana contributing a fluent 52 off 43 deliveries. As long as Kohli remained at the crease, there was a lingering feeling that another miracle was still possible. He eventually fell for a brave 124 off 108 balls, a moment that effectively ended India’s chase. Until then, however, he ensured that the faith would never fade. The result may not have gone India’s way, but Kohli’s innings stood out as a reminder of his enduring greatness and his unmatched ability to make the impossible within reach.