[cricknation_live_score match=”‘He knew where the fielder was’ – Sunil Gavaskar lauds Virat Kohli after NZ vs IND 2026 1st ODI”]
- “He knew where the fielder was” – Sunil Gavaskar praises Virat Kohli after 1st ODI NZ vs IND 2026 Virat Kohli’s haul of 74 off 51 balls on the eve of his 38th birthday earned cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar admiration for his intelligent shot selection and positioning.
- Virat Kohli (Photo by Ayush Kumar/) At Auckland’s Eden Park on the eve of his 38th birthday, Virat Kohli delivered a match-winning performance, scoring 74 off 51 balls with 13 fours and a six.
- India registered a five-wicket win in the rain-shortened encounter to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
“He knew where the fielder was” – Sunil Gavaskar praises Virat Kohli after 1st ODI NZ vs IND 2026 Virat Kohli’s haul of 74 off 51 balls on the eve of his 38th birthday earned cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar admiration for his intelligent shot selection and positioning.
Virat Kohli (Photo by Ayush Kumar/) At Auckland’s Eden Park on the eve of his 38th birthday, Virat Kohli delivered a match-winning performance, scoring 74 off 51 balls with 13 fours and a six. India registered a five-wicket win in the rain-shortened encounter to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Kohli’s intelligent batting received particular praise from cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, who highlighted the precision and awareness that characterized the innings.
Gavaskar noted that Kohli’s shot selection was based on a clear understanding of field placement and the GSs available to him. “When there was no defender in depth, he played in the air. So there was no risk.
When a defensive player was deep, he played on the ground. He knew where the defensive player was and that is extremely important. “You have to hit the ball away from the fielder,” Gavaskar said on Sony Sports.
Gavaskar’s analysis of Kohli’s fielding awareness The former India player explained how Kohli’s decision-making on the sidelines reflected a nuanced interpretation of the position of the fielders and the G’s. This awareness allowed Kohli to take calculated risks when the pitch permitted and exercise caution when danger threatened. Gavaskar also analyzed the technical elements that made Kohli’s batting so effective during the game.
The former India player highlighted the strength of Kohli’s work and how he used his hands differently depending on the area of the pitch he was targeting. “His bottom game is extremely strong. When driving to the offside, he uses his top hand.
When he plays on the opposite side, he plays a lot with his bottom hand. He batted extremely well. Tomorrow (November 5) is his birthday and he has given a gift to the fans,” said Gavaskar.
Also Read: Virat Kohli’s three most memorable hits that changed games. Kohli’s 74 came during a crucial 113-run partnership with Shubman Gill, who contributed 37 runs as the pair added 113 runs for the second wicket. In the innings, Kohli also reached a milestone by equalizing Ricky Ponting’s 1,971 ODI runs against New Zealand. Kohli had hit his 80th ODI fifty in just 35 balls, demonstrating the aggressive intent he brought to the chase from the start.
