March 2, 2025: Star India batter Virat Kohli’s much-anticipated 300th ODI ended with a rare disappointment, as he could only manage 11 runs off 14 balls against New Zealand during their ICC Champions Trophy league stage clash in Dubai on Sunday.
Kohli began confidently, striking two early boundaries off Matt Henry, showcasing his trademark flair. However, his promising start was cut short when he played a cracking shot that unfortunately landed in the hands of Glenn Phillips at backward point. Phillips, known for his exceptional fielding skills, took a stunning diving catch, sending Kohli back to the pavilion and putting a damper on what was supposed to be a celebratory milestone.
Despite the early setback, Kohli’s overall ODI career is nothing short of remarkable. In 300 ODIs, he has accumulated 14,096 runs at an impressive average of 58.00, including 51 centuries and 73 fifties. Kohli is the third-highest run-scorer in the history of ODIs, behind only Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs) and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs). He also holds the record for the most centuries in ODIs, a feat that further solidifies his place among the greats of the game.
While Kohli’s 300th match wasn’t memorable with the bat, his performances in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have been impressive. Having scored 133 runs in two matches at an average of 66.50, including a match-winning 100* against Pakistan, he remains one of the key pillars of India’s batting lineup.
However, when it comes to milestone ODIs, Kohli’s performances have been somewhat underwhelming. In his six milestone matches, he has scored just one century and one fifty. Notably, his performances in previous milestone ODIs have been a mixed bag. In his 50th ODI, during the 2011 World Cup against South Africa, he made just one run. His 150th ODI against England saw him score a meager eight runs, while his 200th ODI against New Zealand in 2017 was one of his few exceptions, as he scored a solid 103 runs. In his 250th ODI against Australia in 2020, he managed 89 runs but India still ended up on the losing side.
In the ongoing match, New Zealand elected to bowl first after winning the toss. India found themselves in a tough spot, having lost their top three batsmen early. At the 30-over mark, India was struggling at 130/4, with Shreyas Iyer (53*) and KL Rahul (1*) stabilizing the innings after the early setbacks. Despite the loss of the top-order, the partnership between Shreyas and Axar Patel (42 in 61 balls) offered hope for India to recover and post a competitive total.
As the match progresses, India will be looking to rebuild and find a way to challenge New Zealand, with the game being crucial for both teams in determining their semi-final prospects.