India stalwart Virat Kohli won hearts once again on Sunday, not just with a match-winning knock but with a heartfelt revelation about his relationship with individual honours. The batting icon starred in India’s four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening ODI at Vadodara, setting the tone for the hosts’ 2026 campaign.
After being named Player of the Match for the 45th time in his ODI career, Kohli shared a personal insight, revealing that every award he has received over nearly 18 years of international cricket is sent to his mother’s home in Gurugram. Speaking at the post-match presentation, the former India captain admitted he does not keep track of the accolades himself.
"Honestly, I have no idea,"Kohli said."I send them to my mum in Gurgaon; she likes to keep them. Looking back at my journey, it’s nothing short of a dream come true. I’ve always known my abilities, worked hard for where I am today, and God has blessed me immensely. I feel a lot of gratitude and pride."
Kohli’s fluent 93 off 91 balls anchored India’s chase of 301, ensuring New Zealand’s late fightback did not derail the hosts, who had briefly stumbled after his dismissal. Harshit Rana’s spirited contribution and KL Rahul’s composure under pressure helped India close out a tense four-wicket win.
The innings also marked historic achievements for Kohli:
He became the fastest batter to reach 28,000 international runs.
He surpassed Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history, with only Sachin Tendulkar ahead.
In terms of individual honours, Kohli’s 45 ODI Player of the Match awards place him behind only Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya in the format. Across all formats, he has now won 71 Player of the Match awards and is closing in on Tendulkar’s overall record of 76.
