[WATCH] Kohli gifts jersey to Matt Henry after being bowled for duck in 4th ODI

At Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 13, Virat Kohli walked off after scoring zero from four balls in the first over of India’s chase in the fourth ODI against New Zealand, bowled by Matt Henry. In a gesture that drew attention after the match, Kohli sought out Henry and presented him with his India jersey, a mark of respect for the pacer’s performance on the day.

Henry was unable to make a significant impact in the series before the fourth fixture. His impact was immediate and decisive. He finished with figures of 6 for 27, dismantling India‘s batting lineup as the visitors were dismissed for 89 in 26.4 overs. New Zealand won the match by 244 runs, cutting India’s series lead to 2-1 with one game remaining.

New Zealand had posted a commanding total in their first innings, with Will Young contributing 125 off 108 balls in a score of 256 for 4. Henry then ensured India never threatened the target. Among his victims in the first over were both Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who were each dismissed for ducks, making it only the second time in ODI cricket that the pair had been dismissed for nought in the same innings. The first such instance came against Sri Lanka in Dambulla in 2010.

Why did Kohli give his jersey to Matt Henry?

The jersey exchange took place at Bay Oval after the conclusion of the fourth ODI. Kohli, who had been bowled by Henry without scoring, approached the New Zealand pacer at the end of the match and handed over his India shirt. Such gestures between players are a recognised form of acknowledgement in international cricket, typically offered when a bowler or batter has produced a performance that the opposing player considers worthy of special recognition. Henry, speaking after the match, reflected on how the conditions and his approach came together on the day.

“Yeah, it’s quite funny, isn’t it? The wind was so strong and it was keeping things pretty simple, and it’s funny when you’re actually trying to have a simple game plan. A bit of luck as well. One shot a little bit low there too, so maybe the wind pushed me a bit sideways,” Henry said in a post-match interview, as quoted by IndiaToday.

How did Matt Henry dismantle India’s top order?

Henry’s spell proved to be a turning point in the series. Bowling in challenging conditions at Bay Oval, he targeted the stumps from the outset and made full use of the new ball. Kohli was bowled in the very first over of India’s chase, and Rohit Sharma followed without adding to the total, leaving India in immediate trouble at the top of their innings. Henry explained his thinking with the new ball, and the opportunity that the swing presented.

“Well, especially with the way the wind was going, I wasn’t too worried about the swing. So from ball one it was just about trying to have the strengths and bring the stumps in play, really. We knew that there was a small window there with the new ball that you could put the batters under pressure. So just trying to be as simple as possible, obviously, and when it moves sharply like that in the first over, when people are facing first ball, it’s pretty tough,” Henry said.

India’s innings folded in 26.4 overs for 89, with Henry’s 6 for 27 the central reason for the collapse. The result leaves the five-match series at 2-1 in India’s favour heading into the final game.

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