Watch: Fans sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Virat Kohli at Eden Park during NZ vs IND 1st ODI

Virat Kohli featured on the first ODI of the five-match series against New Zealand at the Eden Park in Auckland on the eve of his 38th birthday, and the fans attending the game at the ground didn’t lose the opportunity and the moment to wish the batter as he was fielding near the boundary rope. 

Kohli, who turns 38 on November 05, was in a superb mood during the game. He arrived in India before the series and practiced hard in a few sessions on his batting. Upon his arrival in Auckland, he straightaway went to the ground and practiced hard, which reflects his intensity in his hard work.

Virat Kohli’s birthday moment at Eden Park: Watch the crowd’s special wish

Kohli came running towards the boundary rope in the middle overs of the innings when the fans, most of whom were from India, sitting in the stands of the venue, started to sing ‘happy birthday’ to the Delhi-born, who turns 38 on November 05. This year, and like many occasions in previous years, he has been away from home, but this gesture from the fans made it memorable for him.

Watch the moment here- 

Kohli was superb in the field during the first innings of the encounter when he grabbed a superb one-handed flying catch just over the turf to dismiss Nathan Smith, who went for a drive off the bowling of Anshul Kamboj. His outside edge ended up in the hands of Kohli.

See Also: Watch: Gurnoor Brar’s one-handed stunning catch dismisses Tom Latham for 3 in NZ vs IND 1st ODI

Meanwhile, in the batting, he remained unbeaten on 29 runs off 27 balls with five boundaries at a strike rate of 107.41 in a partnership of 53 runs off 59 balls for the second wicket with Shubman Gill when rain stopped play.

How India started their chase against New Zealand in the 1st ODI: Key moments

New Zealand, after being put in to bat first, were bundled out for 185 runs in the first innings as only three of their batters were able to touch the 30-run mark, with Tim Seifert’s 38 runs being the highest of the entire line-up with three boundaries and a pair of sixes.

India's Arshdeep Singh picked up four wickets for 70 runs in his 10 overs, while Gurnoor Brar returned with figures of 3/44 in 9.2 overs, and Anshul Kamboj was impressive with figures of 2/22 in 10 overs. The blue brigade was 54/1 when rain stopped the action.

See Also: Watch: Rohit Sharma falls for a duck in the first over of India’s chase against New Zealand in Auckland

Brief Scores: India 54/1 (Virat Kohli 29*, Kyle Jamieson 1/23) vs New Zealand 185 (Tim Seifert 38, Arshdeep Singh 4/70, Gurnoor Brar 3/44)