During the first ODI between India and New Zealand on Sunday, the most talked-about moment among spectators and on social media was the felicitation ceremony for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The Baroda Cricket Association honored the two legendary batsmen during the innings break, but the manner in which they did it was so unique that it left everyone surprised.
The association had created a large cupboard-like setup with life-size photos of Rohit and Kohli. As their names were called out, the two players emerged from the cupboard and received their honors. ICC Chairman Jay Shah and BCCI chief Mithun Manhas were present on the occasion. Both players were presented with bouquets of flowers and also signed autographs on their posters.
The 'Unboxing' Goes Viral on Social Media
This unique moment brought a lot of laughter to the fans. From Twitter to Instagram, fans dubbed it the 'Rohit-Kohli Unboxing Ceremony'. Several memes went viral, with captions like 'Limited Edition Performers Unboxed!' Even Rohit and Kohli themselves couldn't help but laugh at this amusing felicitation.
Why the Felicitation?
This was the first men's ODI to be held at the Kotambi Stadium. In the presence of 35,000 spectators, the organizing committee honored the two players because they have taken ODI batting to new heights over the past decade and a half. The organizers didn't let this opportunity slip away and honored them in a memorable way.
'Rohit-Kohli' Chants Echo in Kotambi
As soon as the match started, chants of 'Rohit-Rohit' and 'Kohli-Kohli' echoed in the stadium. From fielding to batting, the enthusiasm of the spectators remained high. Rohit opened the innings and got off to a quick start with two sixes and three fours, although he was dismissed soon after. He scored 26 runs off 29 balls.
Kohli Also Shines with the Bat
As soon as Rohit was out, Kohli came to the crease and injected life into the crowd with two brilliant boundaries. He completed his half-century in 44 balls and surpassed Kumar Sangakkara's 28,016 international runs, becoming the second-highest run-scorer after Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli missed out on a century and was dismissed after scoring 93 runs off 91 balls, including eight fours and one six. India chased down the target of 301 runs in 49 overs, losing six wickets, and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
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