Vadodara, Jan 11 (NationPress) The captain of India, Shubman Gill, expressed admiration for the legendary batsman Virat Kohli, who showcased his exceptional form by scoring a remarkable 93 runs in the successful chase of 301, leading the home team to a victory against New Zealand by four wickets during the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Kotambi Cricket Stadium.

After returning from injury, Gill contributed significantly with a captain's score of 56 runs off 71 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes.

Gill commented, "It's always rewarding to contribute, especially during a chase. Staying focused on the present is crucial for athletes, and that's my approach during games."

The iconic former Indian captain entered the match needing just 25 runs to achieve the milestone of 28,000 international runs. He accomplished this by hitting a boundary off Adithya Ashok in the 13th over. Kohli set a record as the fastest player to reach this landmark, doing so in merely 624 innings, which is 20 innings fewer than the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar.

In addition, Kohli's innings helped him surpass Kumar Sangakkara, positioning him as the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history, ahead of the Sri Lankan great's tally of 28,016 runs. Tendulkar retains the top spot with 34,357 runs worldwide. Kohli and Gill together formed a formidable partnership, contributing 118 runs between them.

Gill further remarked, "Kohli makes batting appear effortless; it’s challenging to start on these pitches. I hope he continues to accumulate runs."

The Indian captain also revealed that Washington Sundar, who exited the field with an injury after bowling just five overs, is dealing with a side strain and will undergo a scan post-match.

In Gill's words, "Arshdeep performed well in the last series. With Siraj absent, we aim to rotate our players since there are limited ODIs. Washington has a side strain and will be checked after the match."

Despite the narrow defeat, New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell expressed pride in his team's performance, especially praising Daryl Mitchell and pacer Kyle Jamieson, who applied pressure on India with their quick wickets.

Daryl Mitchell played a vital role scoring 84 runs as New Zealand set a competitive total of 300/8, while Jamieson took 4 wickets for 42 runs.

Bracewell stated, "We can take pride in our performance, pushing the world's number one team to the final over was commendable. If we had reached 320-330, it could have made a significant difference. I wish Jamieson could have bowled longer; he was outstanding. We have excellent batters, and a few more runs could have changed the game. We often talk about pivotal moments; taking those opportunities would have altered the outcome."