WATCH: Fan breaks down in tears as Virat Kohli misses his century in ODI World Cup 2023 clash against New Zealand

For the second match in a row, Virat Kohli stood on the brink of achieving a century as India needed only a few runs to win against New Zealand in the 21st match of the ODI World Cup 2023. In a bold move, he took on Boult to advance into the nineties and rotated the strike to Ravindra Jadeja for the next over. However, in a quest to secure his 49th ODI century, Kohli opted to smash a six but got caught by Glenn Phillips in the deep.

Meanwhile, a young cricket fan found himself overwhelmed with emotion as Kohli narrowly missed out on reaching a century. The child, a fervent supporter of the former Indian cricket team captain, couldn’t contain his tears when Kohli fell just short of the elusive three-figure mark. 

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A brilliant all-round performance by India

Talking about the match, having been put to bat first, New Zealand’s top order appeared on track for a substantial total, led by Daryl Mitchell’s outstanding century and a massive 159-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra for the 3rd wicket. However, in the final Powerplay, Indian bowlers made a strong comeback, conceding just 54 runs, with Mohammed Shami, returning to the side, securing a five-wicket haul.

In pursuit of the target, India’s openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill launched a strong start with the skipper’s exceptional form. Yet, Lockie Ferguson’s introduction slowed India’s momentum, as he dismissed both Rohit at 46 and Shubman Gill at 26.

With India’s lower order tested for the first time in the tournament, New Zealand had a chance for a significant win in Dharamsala. However, Kohli and Jadeja teamed up to steady nerves, maintaining the required run rate and inching closer to the total. Jadeja (39*) found the boundary and helped the team to secure a 4-wicket win with 12 balls left in the innings.