Viral moment! Kohli’s act for Mitchell wins hearts

• Kohli gifts signed jersey to Mitchell after NZ wins series 2-1.
• Mitchell scores 137, Kohli 124 in India's 41-run loss.
• India loses home ODI series to NZ for first time.

Ace India batter Virat Kohli was on Sunday, January 18, seen gifting his signed jersey to New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, minutes after his stupendous knock went into vain as India lost the third ODI by

41 runs and the three-match series 1-2.

Mitchell extended his brilliant run against India with a second consecutive hundred in the series, hammering a superb 137 off 131 deliveries to power New Zealand to a formidable 337/8 after being sent in to bat.

In response, Kohli spearheaded India’s chase with his 54th hundred in the format, scoring 124 off 108 deliveries. However, with little support from the other end, the hosts fell 41 runs short.

During the post-match presentation, Kohli walked across to the New Zealand camp, handed Mitchell a signed jersey and shared a warm embrace with him. Watch the video here:

Virat Kohli gives his signed jersey to Daryl Mitchell during the post-match presentation.

A truly heart-warming gesture by King Kohli 👑❤️ pic.twitter.com/B1ktwKtgXM

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) January 19, 2026

Mitchell and Kohli finished as the top two run-getters of the three-match series. The former, who was also named Player of the Series, piled up 352 runs at a brilliant average of 176.

Kohli’s 124 off 108 deliveries was a masterclass in controlled aggression and composure. He carried the chase almost single-handedly, countering New Zealand’s disciplined attack with crisp drives, well-timed pulls and measured hits over the ropes.

As wickets fell around him, Kohli dug in and refused to let the chase slip away. But once he departed late in the innings, India’s resistance crumbled, with the hosts bowled out for 296 in 46 overs while chasing a daunting 338.

The loss not only handed New Zealand a 2-1 series victory over India but also marked a historic first; India had never before lost a home ODI series to the Kiwis.

It was a sobering evening for the hosts, made more poignant by the fact that one of their finest modern-day batters had delivered a near-perfect response to adversity.