In a display of sheer class and resilience, Virat Kohli inched closer to a monumental cricketing milestone, winning his 71st international Player of the Match award. The iconic batsman achieved this feat with a match-winning knock of 93 runs against New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara's Reliance Stadium.
Kohli's Masterclass in Vadodara
Walking in after a early wicket, Kohli steadied the Indian innings with a composed and authoritative 93 off 104 deliveries. His innings, laced with 7 boundaries, was the cornerstone of India's competitive total and eventual victory. This performance earned him the Player of the Match honour, his 45th such award in One Day Internationals out of 309 matches played in the format.
This award is a significant marker in Kohli's remarkable career resurgence. After returning from a break and facing consecutive ducks in Australia, questions were raised about his form. However, true to his champion spirit, Kohli has bounced back emphatically, piling up runs, winning games, and collecting accolades with familiar consistency.
Chasing the Master Blaster's Legacy
With this 71st overall PoTM award, Virat Kohli has solidified his position as the second-most decorated player in this category in international cricket history. The only man ahead of him is the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who amassed 76 Player of the Match awards during his storied 24-year career.
The breakdown of awards reveals interesting insights. While Tendulkar's tally is higher, a massive 62 of his 76 awards came in ODIs. Kohli, with 45 ODI awards, is currently second on the ODI-specific list as well, trailing Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya who has 48. However, in the overall international list combining Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, Kohli's 71 places him firmly in second, with Jayasuriya at 58.
The Elite List of Award Winners
The list of players with the most Player of the Match awards is a who's who of cricketing greatness. Following Tendulkar and Kohli, the top five is rounded out by:
- Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): 58 awards
- Jacques Kallis (South Africa): 57 awards
- Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 50 awards
Other contemporary stars like Shakib Al Hasan and Rohit Sharma are also on the list with 45 awards each, highlighting Kohli's place among the modern greats.
A Personal Touch to the Trophies
In a heartwarming revelation, Kohli shared what he does with his growing collection of PoTM trophies. He mentioned that he sends them all home to his mother in Gurugram, a testament to the family values that ground the superstar despite his global fame.
The institution of the official Player of the Match award dates back to the 1980s. This means records from nearly a century of cricket before that era are not officially accounted for in these tallies, making the achievements of players from the modern era even more contextual.
As the ODI series against New Zealand progresses, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli. Each innings brings him closer to not just more match-winning contributions, but also to the all-time record held by his idol, Sachin Tendulkar. The chase for the 76th award is well and truly on.
