Virat Kohli was in the middle for 276 balls out of 300 legal deliveries, soaked the sweltering afternoon heat, sprinted 65 times for singles and four times for twos on a slow pitch only to make 200th one-day international match more memorable. He faced 125 balls for his 121 as the skipper rescued India from a difficult 29 for 2 position to post 280 for eight in the first ODI against NZ at Wankhede Stadium yesterday. Kohli's 31st ODI ton had a lot of context to Sachin Tendulkar. He surpassed Ricky Ponting (30 tons) to be the only batsman in the current league to break Tendulkar's 49 ODI tons record.

India captain Virat Kohli hooks one en route his 121 against NZ yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera