- By Himanshu Badola
- Mon, 12 Jan 2026 02:55 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Virat Kohli is one of the most popular cricketers around, and the craze to watch him play has reached an extreme level over the past few years. Virat may be a fan favourite, but the star batter doesn't like the crowd’s habit of cheering at the fall of an Indian wicket. This instance is witnessed every time Kohli walks out to bat, which means, in ODIs, it’s usually the wicket of one of India’s openers.
The likes of Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni also developed such stature and craze among the spectators. An interesting moment took place during the first ODI match between India and New Zealand as Virat took a pause before approaching the field after Rohit Sharma's dismissal during the team's run chase in Vadodara on Sunday. When Rohit departed after scoring 26 runs in 29 balls, a hush descended upon the stadium.
ALSO READ: Ayush Badoni Receives Maiden ODI Call-Up, Replaces Washington Sundar In India's Squad For NZ Series
Virat, who is known for making a quick move into the ground, waited for Rohit to leave the field before marching in. The loud noise in the stadium erupted only after the silence, but Kohli ensured he conveyed his feelings about this crowd behaviour to the public. "I’m aware of it, and honestly, I don’t feel good about it. I’ve seen the same thing happen with MS as well. It’s not a great feeling for the guy walking back. I understand the crowd’s excitement, but I try to focus on what I need to do and not think too much about it," Kohli said after the match.
"I’m extremely grateful. It’s a blessing, honestly. To give so much happiness to so many people just by doing what you love - playing the sport you’ve loved since childhood - what more can I ask for? I’m living my dream, and seeing people smile makes me happy."
Virat produced yet another impactful effort with the bat as his half-century helped India beat New Zealand by 7 wickets to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. The 37-year-old senior batter played a magnificent knock of 93 runs in 91 balls on the back of eight fours and a six as India chased down the 301-run target in 49 overs. On the other handm skipper Shubman Gill (56) and Shreyas Iyer (49) also came up with impactful efforts.