Overview:
Kohli’s position at the top of the ODI rankings looked in danger following Mitchell’s century in the second ODI and an unusual failure from the former India captain.
India and New Zealand’s recently wrapped-up the ODI series revolved largely around the performances of Virat Kohli and Daryl Mitchell, both of whom produced decisive contributions across the three matches.
The Kiwi top-order star was India’s biggest hurdle, piling up 352 runs, with two hundreds and a composed half-century. His dominance powered New Zealand to their first-ever ODI series win in India and he was named the Player of the Series.
In a challenging run pursuit, Kohli rose above the rest with a commanding 124 from 108 balls. He kept India in the game single-handedly, pushing New Zealand to the brink until his dismissal in the 46th over shifted momentum.
Kohli’s consistency has propelled him back to the summit of the ODI batting rankings, reclaiming the No.1 position for the first time since 2021. The gap, however, remains minimal, with Mitchell just one point behind at 784.
Kohli’s position at the top of the ODI rankings looked in danger following Mitchell’s century in the second ODI and an unusual failure from the former India captain. A commanding hundred in the decider, however, is expected to secure his place at No.1.
Kohli wins hearts with a sporting act
The aftermath of New Zealand’s historic Indore victory featured a standout moment from Kohli, who gifted his jersey before the presentation. Kohli made his way toward the New Zealand camp, presented Mitchell with his autographed jersey, and embraced him warmly. The clip spread swiftly online, drawing praise for the Indian star’s sporting spirit.
Virat Kohli gives his signed jersey to Daryl Mitchell during the post-match presentation.
— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) January 19, 2026
A truly heart-warming gesture by King Kohli 👑❤️ pic.twitter.com/B1ktwKtgXM