India vs New Zealand: The first ODI played in Vadodara went to India. Team India defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets in this match and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Virat Kohli was the hero of the Indian team's victory in the first ODI. Virat was out after scoring 93 runs in this match. Chasing the target of 301 runs, he received the Player of the Match award for this innings played in 91 balls, which was his 45th Player of the Match award in his ODI career and 71st Player of the Match award in his international career. Now the question is, what does Virat Kohli do with so many awards? Why do they give them to their mother?

Why does Virat give POTM award to his mother?

Virat Kohli He answered this question during the post match presentation when presenter Harsha Bhogle asked him. Harsha Bhogle asked Virat that 45 Player of the Match awards are enough. You might have needed a separate room to keep them?

Harsha Bhogle: 45 POTM, how big is your house? You need room for all those awards.

Virat Kohli: Well, I send it to my mom in Gurgaon. She likes keeping all the trophies, she feels proud. pic.twitter.com/uoMnrXQJR9

— Suprvirat (@Mostlykohli) January 11, 2026

Virat replied that he sends them to his mother in Gurugram. He also told the reason behind sending the award to his mother. He said that mother likes to keep the trophy she won. They feel proud.

Who has the most POTM awards in international cricket?

Virat Kohli is the player to win the second most Player of the Match awards in international cricket. Only Sachin Tendulkar has more Player of the Match awards than him. Sachin has won 76 Player of the Match awards in international cricket. Virat Kohli has won 71 awards so far, out of which 45 are in ODIs only. That means the day is not far when Virat Kohli can be seen making the record of most player of the match in international cricket. The gap between Sachin and him is only 5 awards.