Sun Jan 18 15:30:00 UTC 2026: # Kohli’s Century in Vain as India Loses to New Zealand in Indore ODI

The Story:
On January 18th, 2026, at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Virat Kohli delivered a masterful batting performance, scoring 124 runs off 108 balls, including 10 fours and 3 sixes. This was Kohli’s 54th century in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and his 85th overall international century. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a victory for Team India, as New Zealand won the ODI series, etching their name in history.

Key Points:

  • Virat Kohli scored 124 runs off 108 balls against New Zealand in the Indore ODI on January 18th, 2026.
  • This was Kohli’s 54th ODI century and 85th international century.
  • Kohli now holds the record for the most ODI centuries against New Zealand with 7, surpassing Virender Sehwag and Ricky Ponting (6 each).
  • Kohli has also surpassed Jacques Kallis, Joe Root, and Sachin Tendulkar to hold the record for the most international centuries against New Zealand with 10.
  • Kohli has surpassed Ricky Ponting in ODI runs scored batting at number 3 position.
  • This was Kohli’s 9th ODI century in a losing cause.
  • Kohli has now scored centuries at 35 different ODI venues, the most by any batsman.
  • New Zealand defeated India, winning the ODI series despite Kohli’s century.

Key Takeaways:

  • Virat Kohli continues to demonstrate his prowess as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, consistently breaking records and setting new benchmarks.
  • Despite individual brilliance, team performance is crucial for securing victories, as highlighted by India’s loss despite Kohli’s century.
  • Kohli’s ability to score centuries across numerous venues underscores his adaptability and consistency.
  • The comparison to Sachin Tendulkar’s record of centuries in losing causes emphasizes the challenging context in which some of these milestones are achieved.

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