Virat Kohli's Classic 93 Powers India Past New Zealand

Just months after questions swirled about his decline, Virat Kohli reminded the cricket world why he holds the record for most ODI centuries.

The Indian batting icon scored 93 runs off 91 balls in Vadodara on Sunday, guiding his team to a four-wicket win over New Zealand in the first match of their three-game series. His performance came just three months after he scored back-to-back zeros against Australia, leading some to wonder if age was catching up with the 37-year-old star.

Kohli walked to the crease with India chasing 301 runs and never looked rattled. He played what he calls his "classical" game, keeping risky shots at bay and relying on the techniques that built his legendary career.

"If we were batting first, I'd have gone harder," Kohli told broadcasters after the match. "The basic idea is I bat at No. 3 and if the situation is tricky, I try to counterattack without playing outrageous shots."

The strategy worked beautifully. Kohli reached his half-century in just 44 balls, peppering the field with elegant cover drives, powerful pull shots, and his signature on-drives that had the Vadodara crowd roaring.

He built a crucial 118-run partnership with Shubman Gill that essentially sealed the victory. Even when New Zealand shuffled their fielders and adjusted bowling lengths, Kohli responded with such authority that bowlers seemed to run out of answers.

Why This Inspires

What makes Kohli's comeback story special isn't just the numbers. It's his trust in methods that shaped him as a young player, even when modern cricket often favors flashier approaches.

Rather than reinventing himself after those twin failures against Australia, Kohli doubled down on his foundations. He kept the aggressive intent but married it to classical technique, proving that time-tested skills don't expire with age.

His innings ended seven runs short of another century when he mistimed a shot to mid-off, but he'd already done the heavy lifting. India stumbled briefly, losing three quick wickets, but KL Rahul steadied the ship to finish the chase in the 49th over.

For younger teammates like Gill and Shreyas Iyer, both finding their own rhythm after time away from the team, Kohli's approach offered a masterclass. Patience mixed with purpose. Calculated risks rather than desperate swings.

The victory gives India a 1-0 series lead, but the real win might be watching a legend silence doubters by staying true to what always worked.