Watch: Virat Kohli smashes quickfire fifty a day before his birthday in IND vs NZ 1st ODI

Virat Kohli continued his impressive record in ODI run chases with a quickfire half-century in India's rain-affected first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday. The former India captain reached his fifty in just 35 balls, one day before his 38th birthday. He brought up the milestone with a powerful pull shot against Blair Tickner, sending the short delivery racing towards deep mid-wicket for four.

Kohli walked in to bat after India lost Rohit Sharma for a duck. The 37-year-old looked in excellent touch from the start, finding gaps with ease and keeping the scoreboard moving. While captain Shubman Gill settled in at the other end, Kohli continued to attack the New Zealand bowlers and entertained the crowd with his fluent batting.

The half-century was Kohli's 80th in ODI cricket. He has also scored 55 centuries in the format, taking his total of 50-plus scores to 135. His quickfire innings added another special moment to his record in ODI cricket. 

Watch the viral video of Kohli's birthday-eve fifty here:

Virat Kohli hits a 35-ball fifty before his birthday at Eden Park

Kohli walked in to bat after India lost Rohit Sharma for a duck. The 37-year-old looked in excellent touch, finding the gaps with ease. While captain Shubman Gill took his time at the other end, Kohli played his natural attacking game and kept the scoreboard moving.

Kohli's strike rate was particularly impressive. Despite the required run rate being well below four, he continued to score at more than a run a ball and took calculated risks. When boundaries were hard to find, he ran hard between the wickets and kept the runs coming.

See also -Watch: Virat Kohli’s stunning catch dismisses Nathan Smith for 1 in NZ vs IND 1st ODI
 
The legandary indian batter brought up his half-century with a boundary off just 35 balls. It was his second-fastest fifty in an away ODI. He also crossed 13,000 runs while batting at No. 3, becoming the first player to achieve the milestone in ODI cricket.

Kohli’s 74 off 51 balls and his 50th away ODI fifty-plus score

Virat Kohli played an impressive innings of 74 runs off 51 balls in the first ODI against New Zealand. He struck eight fours and one six, using controlled strokeplay and quick running between the wickets to keep India’s chase moving. His half-century was his 29th in away ODIs and his 50th fifty-plus score in the format at the home of the opposition. He became the first player to reach this milestone, moving ahead of Kumar Sangakkara, who recorded 45 such scores.

Kohli also broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in ODI run chases. He needed 54 runs to go past Tendulkar’s tally of 8,720 runs. Kohli reached 55 runs in the innings with a boundary, taking his overall tally in ODI chases to 8,722. The milestone added another major achievement to his impressive ODI career.

See also -Virat Kohli creates new record during NZ vs IND 1st ODI in Auckland

Kohli was eventually dismissed for 74 off just 51 balls. His innings gave India valuable momentum in the revised chase, and he received a standing ovation from the crowd as he walked back to the pavilion. His performance once again highlighted his consistency and ability to deliver in pressure situations.

Kohli draws level with Ponting: What it means for the series

Virat Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls in the first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, 2026. With this innings, he equalled Ricky Ponting's record of 18 fifty-plus scores against New Zealand in ODI cricket. Kohli also became the first batter to record 50 scores of 50 or more in away ODIs, achieving another major milestone in his career.

Kohli's record against New Zealand remains impressive, with seven centuries and 10 half-centuries in ODI cricket. His total of 1,971 runs against the Black Caps also matches Ponting's tally against the same team. Dean Jones and Kumar Sangakkara follow with 14 fifty-plus scores each, while Babar Azam, Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar have recorded 13 such scores against New Zealand in ODIs. Across all three formats, Kohli also moved level with Babar and Ponting at 27 fifty-plus scores against New Zealand. Joe Root follows with 26, while Tendulkar has 25.

India romped to a 1-0 lead after a dominant win over New Zealand in the first ODI in Auckland. Opting to bowl, Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Kamboj starred as New Zealand were bowled out for 185. Rain reduced the match to 32 overs, but India chased the revised target comfortably, thanks to a half-century from Kohli.