At the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, there was more than just a cricketing drama: there was a viral moment as well. Shreyas Iyer’s catch off Glenn Phillips and Virat Kohli’s serpent charmer celebration video broke the internet before anyone could react, with Naagin dance being played all over by Fans and pundit re-plays from every corner of the ground in minutes of the wicket.
Kohli’s Snake Charmer Moment Goes Viral
The moment was in the 34th over when Kuldeep Yadav bowled a slower one which wobbled in the air. Glenn Phillips drove it early and Shreyas Iyer took a sharp catch at point. Kohli, the ever-expressive one, went over, chuckled, and did a chakri (snake charmer) bow which bounced back as the highlight of the evening in the span of a few seconds.
Kohli revealed afterward what went through his mind. He showcased the ball’s wobble and his praise for the steady Shreyas just demonstrated how close the Indian team was. Such a moment of friendship and sportsmanship was just too good and was immediately picked up by the social platforms as a highlight.
Glenn Phillips was dismissed when he scored only 12 off 19 balls, the event that had a huge impact as New Zealand was trying to speed up the run rate. The wicket taken was made use of by India as they put pressure on the middle overs, and the joyous occasion also emphasized Kohli being both the performer on the pitch and the motivator for the team.
Match Snapshot: New Zealand’s Middle-Over Slide
In the beginning, New Zealand played well. Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls had a 117-run partnership in the opening, Conway going on to score 56 and Nicholls 62. It was going smooth until the middle order showed and the team went from 117 for 1 to 198 for 5.
Daryl Mitchell turned out to be a savior for New Zealand by making a solid 84 and giving his side a chance. He could not do it alone, therefore, he had weak middle-order support throughout his innings, especially when there wasn’t Kane Williamson to help in the crucial moment.
New Zealand concluded with a bang after the batting line-up had a rough patch and put up 300 runs on the board with the loss of 8 wickets. The scoreboard was ticking over the match but the debutant Kristian Clarke provided a strong finish with an unbeaten 24 off 17 balls, and Kyle Jamieson closed 8 not out. Such a late charge made the total a good one for the opponents in a game of cricket.
Kohli Celebration after Philips Wicket😂♥️#ViratKohli#ViratKohli𓃵pic.twitter.com/k3ZUH5N7RQ
— KOHLISM (@166of110) January 11, 2026
Indian Bowlers and Fielding
Indian bowlers equally shared the wickets among themselves. In the end, Siraj and Harshit were the highest wicket-takers with two each, and the remaining two, Prasidh and Yadav also registered a wicket each. Krish, with one too, took his second and the team’s fourth wicket by means of a magnificent and nearly unplayable old-ball dismissal of Hay which was as always vigorously discussed by Kohli.
There was a unique case surrounding that catch by Shreyas Iyer. One of the reasons it was being talked about was how Kohli reacted, but apart from that, the technique used by the fielder wasn’t exactly the normal one. Iyer, the fielder, moved a bit backward and then bent low to catch the ball, something every cricket-loving fan knows that good positioning and quick reflexes are just as important in winning matches as are the quality of the players in the team.
What This Event Says about the Series
India, on the other hand, will have to come up with a controlled effort with the bat to chase the target of 301 and win the first match of the series. The total is not that high but New Zealand’s strong seamers and disciplined tight fielding make it a must for the batsmen to be very clear in their approach.
Having an early partnership that’s very good and a smashing finish are the points that made New Zealand team appear to be a formulaic team but the same could not be said for their middle order. As for India, the team will most probably win today if they keep up the same energy they have been playing with and Kohli’s captaincy turns out to be a blessing.
Apparently, social media users are the ones who provided the Indian cricket team captain with the remaining dance as it hit thousands of shares, likes, and comments. People were loving this and the happiness that a competitive game brings was sealed. And that speaks of the power of a cricket game moment, which can transform into a cultural event that is linked to the game, in the long run.
While the series unfolds, one can well anticipate that there will be instances relating to on-field acts in the cricket world that will also reveal their human side. But, till now, Kohli’s victory gesture is just not to be forgotten and also, Iyer’s grab will most probably be the talk in Vadodara for the first ODI of the series.
