Virat Kohli enjoys well-deserved time off with wife Anushka Sharma
Virat Kohli has stressed on the fact that he likes to enjoy the simple things in life and as he takes a break from cricket, he is doing exactly that.
Kohli, who was rested for the last two ODIs and the three T20 internationals against New Zealand, posted a photo of his along with wife Anushka Sharma as he enjoys his time off away from the game.
The Indian captain had posted a photo of him leaving New Zealand with Anushka Sharma and captioned it "Away we go #travelswithher."
This is the not the first time Kohli has missed a series and opted for rested instead as he didn't take part in the last two ODI series against the Windies and also skipped the Asia Cup.
Following that, Kohli returned to lead the side against Australia and New Zealand as India scripted history Down Under and a week later against the Kiwis.
However, Kohli's absence hurt the visitors in the fourth ODI at Seddon Park against the Black Caps as India were bowled out for 92 after Trent Boult's 5/21.
India's much-vaunted batting was dismissed for its seventh-lowest ODI total -- 92 in 30.5 overs here -- after Boult dished out a deadly opening spell.
It was also the lowest total posted by any side on this venue, the previous lowest of 122 also against India's name.
With the series already out of their grasp after India won the first three games, Boult wreaked havoc with the new ball and in Colin de Grandhomme's (3/26) company utilised the swinging conditions at the Seddon Park.
"Never expected this to happen. (But) games like this happen...We've got ourselves to blame for this," said India's stand-in captain Rohit Sharma.
In the absence of Kohli and an injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian batting unit found the going tough against the Kiwi bowling attack.
India's lowest ODI total is 54 against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 2000. It was also India's second-lowest total in ODIs against New Zealand, having somehow managed to surpass the 88 scored at Dambulla.
Bowling his 10 overs at a stretch, Boult troubled the Indian batsmen with both ways movement to return with impressive figures of 5 for 21, while Grandhomme gave him perfect support from the other end after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl.
While chasing, even though New Zealand lost Martin Guptill (14) and skipper Kane Williamson (11) early to Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/25), the hosts completed the formalities in 14.4 overs with eight wickets in hand.
Henry Nicholls (30 not out) and Ross Taylor (37 not out) then completed the easy task for the Kiwis without any further damage.
The next ODI will be played at Wellington on Sunday and India will have the opportunity to correct the wrongs of Hamilton and end the series as 4-1 winners.
