The BCA Stadium in Vadodara witnessed another masterclass in run-chasing on Sunday India achieved a thrilling victory by four wickets new zealand In the first ODI. Chasing a competitive target of 301, the Men in Blue find their footing Virat KohliWhose brilliant inning of 93 runs in 91 balls laid the foundation of victory. While New Zealand made a late comeback in the game, making significant contributions KL Rahul (29*) and Harshit Rana (29) ensured that India crossed the finish line with an over to spare and took a 1-0 lead in the series.
Virat Kohli won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant batting.
It was a milestone night for the former Indian captain. While he missed his 54th ODI century kyle jamison Scored 93 runs at mid-on – his innings was the difference between the two sides. Laced with eight fours and a six, Kohli’s innings stabilized the chase after the collapse of the openers, showcasing his trademark accuracy and intent.
Kohli got 45th title with this match winning performance Player of the match (POTM) Awards in ODI. At the post-match presentation, a humble Kohli had a heart-warming tale about his accolades, revealing that he sends all his trophies to his mother in Gurugram, who loves keeping them. With this latest honour, Kohli has further cemented his place in the list of ODI greats, moving closer to the top spot on the all-time leaderboard.
Most Player of the Match awards in ODI history
With his heroics in Vadodara, Kohli has cemented his place in the elite list of players to have won the most Man of the Match awards in the 50-over format. Let’s take a look at the legendary trio sitting at the top of this illustrious list:
3)Virat Kohli (India) – 45 awards
Recognized as the greatest chaser the game has ever seen, Kohli’s 45th award is a testament to his incredible consistency across nearly two decades. His ability to pace the innings and handle pressure has led to countless Indian victories. Unlike the explosive openers above him on this list, Kohli’s rewards often come from gritty, high-pressure innings in the middle order, making his numbers uniquely impressive. Looking at his current form, he looks set to overtake second place soon.
2) Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 48 awards
sri lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya Revolutionized ODI cricket in the 90s with his aggressive batting at the top order. He is second in the list with 48 awards from 445 matches. A true all-rounder, Jayasuriya often earned respect not only for his explosive centuries but also for his clever left-arm spin which broke many important partnerships. He remains one of the most impressive match-winners in the history of this format.
1) Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 62 awards
Sitting comfortably on the summit is a wonderful event. Sachin TendulkarWith 62 awards in 463 matches, Tendulkar’s record seems almost untouched, His career spanned generations, and his ability to dominate attacks in different eras and circumstances gave him unmatched longevity, For Kohli to catch Tendulkar, he will need another sustained run of dominance, but right now, the Master Blaster reigns supreme,
See also: IND vs NZ: Prasidh Krishna clean bowled Mitchell Hay from Jaffa in the first ODI
