Virat Kohli's Light-Hearted Moment with Daryl Mitchell After Century
Virat Kohli shared a fun moment with Daryl Mitchell during the third ODI between India and New Zealand in Indore. The former India captain playfully pushed Mitchell off the field after the New Zealand batter completed his century.
Mitchell's Stellar Innings in Indore
Daryl Mitchell continued his impressive form against India with another century. He scored 137 runs from 127 balls in the third ODI. His innings included 15 fours and 3 sixes.
Mohammed Siraj finally dismissed Mitchell in the 45th over. Mitchell has been in excellent touch throughout this series. He has now scored 352 runs in just three matches.
The Playful Boundary Incident
As Mitchell walked off the field after his dismissal, Virat Kohli was standing near the boundary ropes. Kohli gave Mitchell a gentle push toward the dressing room. Both players smiled during this light-hearted exchange.
This moment of banter between the two international cricketers delighted fans watching the match. It showed the friendly spirit that exists alongside intense competition.
New Zealand's Strong Batting Performance
Mitchell's century was part of a strong New Zealand batting effort. Glenn Phillips also scored a century, making 106 runs from 88 balls. The two batsmen put together a 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
This partnership rescued New Zealand from a difficult position at 58/3. Their efforts helped the team reach a total of 337/8 in their 50 overs.
Series Context and Previous Performances
The Indore match served as the series decider after both teams won one game each. Mitchell had scored an unbeaten 131 in the second ODI in Rajkot. That innings helped New Zealand chase down 285 runs to level the series.
India has traditionally performed well in Indore for ODI matches. The team had never lost an ODI game at this venue before this series decider.
Bowling Challenges for India
Indian bowlers faced difficulties containing the New Zealand batsmen. Arshdeep Singh took 3 wickets for 63 runs in his 10 overs. Harshit Rana proved expensive, conceding 84 runs while taking 3 wickets.
Michael Bracewell provided late fireworks for New Zealand with an unbeaten 28 from just 18 balls. His innings included three sixes and helped push the total beyond 330.
The series outcome remained uncertain as India prepared to chase the challenging target. Both teams displayed competitive cricket throughout the three-match series.
