Indore, Jan 19: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes Virat Kohli’s greatest strength lies in his ability to remain unshackled by expectations and play purely according to the situation after the talismanic batter scored a century in the third ODI against New Zealand.

While Virat Kohli scored his 54th ODI hundred, continuing his rich vein of form, India fell short against New Zealand, who were powered by centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.

“The thing about Virat is that he’s not tied down to an image. Many players feel pressured to play the way people expect them to. Virat isn’t like that. He’s tied to the job at hand, and that job is to score runs.” Gavaskar told Jio Star

“Sometimes he starts watchfully and then opens up; sometimes he attacks early and then spreads the field. He’s not governed by expectations of how he should play. He plays according to the situation. That temperament is the key,” Gavaskar said.

Gavaskar also shed light on the Men in Blue’s loss. He felt India’s problems began with a poor start throughout the series. “Once New Zealand crossed 300, it was always going to be difficult. If the target had been around 290, it might have been possible. But India kept losing early wickets, including KL Rahul, who was in good form.

“Unless Virat got substantial support, it was always going to be tough, and he got very little of it. As they say, well begun is half done. India never began well, and that’s one of the main reasons they couldn’t chase these scores,” he added.

Praising allrounder Harshit Rana for his late contribution, Gavaskar said the youngster showed clarity in his role. “He batted exactly like a lower-order batter should, without worry and without expectations. He knew his job was to swing the bat. If it came off, great. If not, no worries,” he said.

He also highlighted the learning opportunity for young players batting alongside a legend like Kohli. “To bat with someone like Virat Kohli is a privilege. When such players talk to you at the end of an over and say, ‘keep going’ or ‘good shot’, those are memories you carry for life,” Gavaskar said.

Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull lauded the visitors for their composure and depth, calling the series win a reflection of New Zealand’s strong development system.

“This is a special performance. Players like Jayden Lennox and Kristian Clarke came in on their first tour and stood tall in tough conditions. It shows how strong New Zealand’s pathway system is. To lose seven ODI series in a row in India shows how hard it is to win here. These players have managed to do what no one else has. It’s a brilliant achievement,” he added.

Mumbai, Jan 14: Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim praised Harmanpreet Kaur’s competitive spirit and match awareness, saying that it’s a difficult job for the opposition to set the field for her, after the Mumbai Indians pulled off a thrilling seven-wicket win against the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League 2026 on Tuesday at the DY Patil Stadium.

Reflecting on Harmanpreet’s innings, Karim described the Mumbai Indians captain as one of the most adaptable and difficult batters to contain in modern women’s cricket.

“It’s always a pleasure to watch Harmanpreet bat like this. The secret to her success, longevity and consistency is her ability to adapt very quickly. That comes from her awareness of the match situation and her early assessment of conditions,” he told Jiostar.

“She plays the field extremely well. It’s not easy to set a field for Harmanpreet. She exploits the offside with ease and is equally strong on the leg side. Her ability to coil and uncoil at the right moment, combined with her back lift and downswing, makes it very difficult for bowlers to contain her,” he added.

Karim acknowledged that although the innings had imperfections, the 36-year-old captain’s clarity and understanding of the game once again distinguished him.

“She finds gaps against both pace and spin and reads the game exceptionally well. Her WPL record speaks for itself. More than 1,000 runs batting at number four, along with several fifties, shows the immense value she brings every time she walks out to bat,” Karim said.

Former New Zealand cricketer Katey Martin also shared similar views, emphasising the Indian batter’s skill in managing the pace of a chase and leveraging her strengths at key moments.

“I think Harmanpreet never wants to leave this ground. She turned up here on the first day with a massive smile on her face. Before that, she had taken the World Cup home as well, and she continues,” said Martin.

“She commits to her strengths, but the way she paces her innings is so crucial. She started off slowly, eight off eight, looked for her match up, which was Ashleigh Gardner, and then went after her. When you see shots like her drives over extra cover and mid-wicket, you wonder how someone can hit all around the ground with such power and precision. You want your best player to stand up in chases, and Harmanpreet did exactly that,” she added.

Martin also commended Amanjot Kaur’s role and her partnership with Harmanpreet, which was crucial in turning the momentum back in the Mumbai Indians’ favour.

“Amanjot is a real competitor and always wants to be in the fight. Batting at number three was a different role for her, but she understood the situation perfectly. Around the ninth over, when they went for back-to-back big overs, that was the momentum shift. In T20 cricket, momentum is everything. That partnership took pressure off Harmanpreet and allowed her to finish the job calmly,” she observed.

Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 71-run knock and Amanjot’s crucial contribution in the middle led the Mumbai Indians to their second consecutive win in the ongoing WPL edition.

Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai police will impose traffic restrictions on the service road near Dr. D. Y. Patil Stadium in Nerul from January 9 to January 17, 2026, to ensure security and smooth movement during the BCCI Women’s Premier League (WPL) T20 cricket matches.

According to the traffic control notification issued by the Turbhe Traffic Division, all types of vehicles will be barred from plying and parking on the service road between Bhimashankar Society and the L.P. Rickshaw Stand from 7 am to 11 pm on match days, as the route has been earmarked for the movement of players and dignitaries.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Tirupati Kakade said the restrictions are being enforced under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act to prevent congestion and maintain law and order in the stadium vicinity during the matches.

Commuters have been advised to use the Sion–Panvel Highway, specifically the Uran Phata to L.P. Bridge stretch, as an alternative route to reach their destinations.

The restrictions will not apply to vehicles carrying essential commodities, police vehicles, fire brigade units, ambulances, government vehicles, other emergency services, and vehicles holding official passes issued by the WPL/IPL management.