India ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer lauded Virat Kohli for his trademark consistency after the senior batter guided India to a four-wicket win over New Zealand in the opening ODI. Kohli’s composed 93-run innings anchored the chase of 301, helping India take a 1–0 lead in the three-match series.

In a video released by the BCCI, Iyer highlighted Kohli’s methodical approach and ability to influence games, praising how he rotates the strike and takes bowlers on. “Whatever we say about his innings feels inadequate. The consistency stands out. He truly walks the talk,” Iyer said.

Kohli also achieved a major personal milestone, crossing 28,000 international runs in just 624 innings, becoming the fastest to the landmark—20 innings fewer than Sachin Tendulkar. This feat moved him past Kumar Sangakkara into second place on the all-time international run-scorers list, trailing only Tendulkar.

Although Kohli fell short of a century, caught at mid-off off Kyle Jamieson, his innings laid the foundation for the win. Iyer, returning after a spleen injury, contributed 49 off 47 balls and shared a crucial 77-run partnership with Kohli to stabilize India’s innings.

Reflecting on his comeback, Iyer said, “Coming back after some time feels special. More than anything, I missed being in the dressing room, and I’m glad to be contributing again.”

The victory not only set the tone for India in the series but also reinforced Kohli’s enduring role as the cornerstone of the team’s batting lineup.