Overview:

Across formats, he has collected 71 awards and is rapidly closing in on Tendulkar’s all-time record of 76.

Virat Kohli once again captured attention on Sunday, delivering a decisive innings while also offering an honest reflection on how he views personal milestones. His performance played a central role in India’s four-wicket success over New Zealand in the series opener.

After collecting his 45th ODI Player-of-the-Match award, Kohli offered a rare personal insight, noting that every individual award from his international career is sent to his mother in Gurugram, while he himself keeps no track of the count.

“To be honest, I don’t really keep track,” Kohli said when asked about the number of Player-of-the-Match awards.

“I send them all to my mother in Gurugram, she enjoys looking after them. When I think about the journey so far, it feels like a dream. I’ve always believed in my abilities, put in a lot of work to reach this point, and I’m deeply thankful for everything life has given me. It’s something I take great pride in,” he said.

The honour marked another significant chapter in Kohli’s career, with his well-paced 93 off 91 balls providing the backbone to India’s pursuit of 301. Despite a late surge from New Zealand, the hosts kept their momentum after a short setback.

Even though Kohli fell short of completing the chase, a gritty knock from Harshit Rana and KL Rahul’s composed finish ensured India held off New Zealand’s late fightback. The innings was historic too, as Kohli became the quickest to 28,000 international runs and surpassed Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar.

Kohli’s tally of 45 Player of the Match awards in ODIs puts him only behind Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya in the format. Across formats, he has collected 71 awards and is rapidly closing in on Tendulkar’s all-time record of 76.

V M Suriya Narayanan is a passionate cricket writer who has been following the game since 2007. With a background in Civil Engineering (B.E.), he blends analytical thinking with a deep understanding of...