Virat Kohli once again showed why he is one of the greatest ODI batters of all time. On January 18, 2026, at Holkar Stadium, Indore, Kohli scored a brilliant 124 runs off 108 balls against New Zealand. His innings included 10 fours and 3 sixes and helped him reach a massive milestone his 54th ODI century, the most by any player in ODI history. However, even after Kohli’s special knock, India lost the match by 41 runs while chasing a big target of 338. With this win, New Zealand won the ODI series 2–1, creating history by winning their first-ever bilateral ODI series in India.
IND vs NZ 3rd ODI Match Summary: New Zealand Score 337/8 in 50 Overs
New Zealand batted first and put up a strong total of 337 runs for 8 wickets in their 50 overs. The highlight of their innings was a huge 219-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.
- Daryl Mitchell played a superb knock of 137 runs
- Glenn Phillips supported him with a powerful 106-run innings
Their partnership completely changed the match in New Zealand’s favour. Later, captain Michael Bracewell added quick runs at the end, which helped the team cross the 330-run mark. India’s bowlers tried hard but failed to break this partnership early, which made the difference.
IND vs NZ 3rd ODI: Virat Kohli Leads India’s Fight in Big Chase
With India in deep trouble, Virat Kohli took responsibility and played a calm and controlled innings. He focused on rotating the strike and hitting boundaries when needed. Kohli first built an 88-run partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who played confidently and scored a well-deserved fifty. This partnership brought some hope back for the home team. Later, Kohli added another important stand of 99 runs with Harshit Rana, who surprised everyone with an aggressive 52-run knock. For a moment, it looked like India might actually pull off a famous chase.
Kohli Reaches Century and Breaks Major ODI Record
Virat Kohli reached his century with a boundary, and the crowd at Indore erupted in celebration. With this hundred, Kohli achieved a huge record he became the highest run-scorer at No.3 position in ODI cricket, going past Ricky Ponting. This century was Kohli’s 54th in ODIs, pushing him well ahead of Sachin Tendulkar, who had 49 ODI hundreds.
"Virat Kohli's blistering century lights up the stadium in the 3rd ODI! King Kohli strikes again, rewriting history with sheer class and dominance. This marks his 85th international ton, 54th in ODIs, 41st on Indian soil, and 7th against New Zealand! #INDvNZ #ViratKohli #BCCI pic.twitter.com/P4PqtvZujf
— Stay update (@StayUpdate6) January 19, 2026
IND vs NZ 3rd ODI: New Zealand Take Key Wickets to Stop India
Just when India looked close to making a comeback, New Zealand turned the match around again. Fast bowler Zakary Foulkes dismissed Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj on back-to-back deliveries, stopping India’s momentum. Kohli continued batting with Kuldeep Yadav, but soon after, Kohli was caught at long-off while trying to clear the boundary off Kristian Clarke’s bowling. India were finally bowled out for 296 runs in 46 overs, falling short of the target.
Virat Kohli 54th ODI Century: Records and Achievements
This innings added several big records to Kohli’s name:
- 54 ODI centuries – most by any player in history
- 85 international centuries overall
- 7 ODI centuries against New Zealand, the most by any batter
- Surpassed Sachin Tendulkar in ODI hundreds
- Most runs scored at No.3 position in ODIs
Kohli faced 108 balls and scored at a strike rate of around 115, showing great balance between patience and attacking shots.
Virat Kohli ODI Career Stats After 54th Century
After nearly 300 ODI matches, Virat Kohli’s numbers are incredible:
- Virat Kohli has scored over 14,000 runs in ODI cricket after nearly 300 matches.
- He maintains an excellent batting average of above 58 in ODIs.
- Kohli has one of the strongest records in ODI run chases.
- He has consistently performed well against top teams, including New Zealand.
- Against New Zealand alone, Kohli has scored 7 ODI centuries, showing his comfort against them.
This innings against New Zealand added another milestone to his already stellar ODI career and reinforced his reputation as one of the greatest chase masters in cricket history.
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Fans React to Virat Kohli’s 54th ODI Century
The crowd at Holkar Stadium cheered loudly as Kohli reached his hundred. He celebrated quietly, showing focus and maturity. Fans on social media praised his fitness and hunger for runs at 37 years of age. Many said this phase is one of his best, even after stepping away from T20 internationals. Videos of his pull shots and sixes quickly went viral.
