IND vs NZ 2026: Sunil Gavaskar salutes Virat Kohli’s mentality after Indore masterclass

Published - 19 Jan 2026, 23:36 IST | Updated - 19 Jan 2026, 23:44 IST

Even in a losing cause against New Zealand, India’s batting legend Virat Kohli once again showed why he remains one of the most consistent performers in ODI cricket. Following Kohli’s superb 124-run knock in the series decider at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar was full of praise for the star batter’s approach and adaptability traits, which he believes set Kohli apart from others.

Praising Kohli’s masterclass, Gavaskar highlighted that what makes the Delhi batter so successful is not just technique but also his freedom from public perception and his focus on the needs of the moment. Gavaskar broke down Kohli’s approach, noting how the veteran adjusts his game based on conditions rather than sticking to a fixed style.

“The thing about him is that he’s not tied down to an image. A lot of batters and bowlers are constrained by how they’re perceived, and they feel they must live up to that image. Virat isn’t like that — he’s tied to the job at hand, and that job is to score runs,” Gavaskar told via JioStar.

“Sometimes that means starting watchfully and then opening out. Sometimes it means attacking early and then spreading the field and picking up ones and twos. He’s not governed by expectations of how he should play. That temperament is the key. He doesn’t think, ‘I’m expected to hit a six.’ He plays according to the situation. He never gives up. Even till the end, he was trying,” Gavaskar added.

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In a series decider, chasing a mammoth target of 338, the right-hander showed his true class and notched up his 54th ODI hundred, which included 10 fours and three huge sixes. Even though the Men in Blue were on the losing side, there were several records the 37-year-old broke en route to his knock. This was his 11th century against the Kiwis, across formats, more than anyone else in the history of the game.

Indore also became the 35th venue where the New Delhi-born has scored a century in the white-ball format, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar, who had scored his 49 ODI centuries across 34 different venues.