Watch: Virat Kohli teases Glenn Phillips with John Cena’s ‘You Can’t See Me’ celebration

Virat Kohli’s John Cena Celebration Steals the Show as India Dominate New Zealand in Auckland ODI

Virat Kohli added a touch of WWE theatrics to the opening ODI between India and New Zealand, playfully recreating John Cena’s famous “You Can’t See Me” gesture in front of Glenn Phillips. The light-hearted moment at Eden Park gave fans an entertaining break in a match that was otherwise shaped by India’s sharp fielding and disciplined bowling.

The gesture came as Phillips made his way to the crease after New Zealand lost another wicket. With Cena’s signature entrance music playing over the stadium speakers, Kohli seized the opportunity, waving his hand in front of his face as he passed the New Zealand batter. The exchange quickly caught the attention of spectators and viewers following the first ODI of the India tour.

Beyond the viral celebration, Kohli made a significant contribution in the field. India produced a series of timely dismissals, including a run-out involving Rohit Sharma and a spectacular catch by Kohli, to bowl New Zealand out for 185. The performance gave India a strong platform and offered plenty for fans to discuss, from the match’s turning points to the early prediction of how the series might unfold.

India Choose to Field Under Overcast Auckland Skies

India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field, a decision made under overcast conditions at Eden Park. The visitors opted for a pace-heavy attack, selecting four specialist fast bowlers: Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh. Mohammed Siraj missed out, while spin-bowling all-rounder Naman Dhir was preferred over Nitish Kumar Reddy.

The selection reflected India’s apparent emphasis on using the conditions and maintaining pressure with pace. New Zealand, meanwhile, needed to negotiate the opening spell and build partnerships after losing early wickets. India’s bowlers made that task difficult, striking regularly and preventing the hosts from settling into a sustained rhythm.

Kohli Recreates John Cena’s Famous WWE Gesture

The playful moment arrived in the 22nd over, shortly after Tom Latham’s dismissal. New Zealand were already under pressure at four wickets down for 83, and Phillips walked out to join Daryl Mitchell. As the stadium played John Cena’s well-known WWE entrance theme, Kohli joined the entertainment by performing the wrestler’s trademark hand wave.

The gesture was clearly a bit of on-field fun rather than a serious exchange. Kohli, one of cricket’s most recognisable personalities, has often brought energy and expressive celebrations to the field. This time, his timing and the music made the moment especially memorable, turning a brief interaction into one of the match’s most widely shared highlights.

Phillips arrived at a challenging point in the innings, with India’s bowlers having already taken four wickets. Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar had claimed two apiece, putting the visitors in control. While the Cena-inspired celebration added humour to the occasion, India’s immediate focus remained on breaking the developing partnership and keeping New Zealand’s total in check.

Rohit Sharma’s Quick Thinking Leads to Mitchell Run-Out

India soon delivered another major blow through a sharp piece of fielding. On the first ball of the 22nd over, Phillips nudged the ball towards the leg side and called for a single. Mitchell hesitated before setting off, and that brief uncertainty proved costly.

Rohit Sharma, positioned inside the inner ring, reacted quickly. He dived to his right, gathered the ball and released an accurate throw while still falling to the ground. Wicketkeeper KL Rahul collected it cleanly and removed the bails, with Mitchell unable to make his ground.

Mitchell departed for 28 from 41 balls, ending a useful innings that had helped New Zealand steady their progress after early setbacks. He and Tim Seifert had added 33 runs for the third wicket before Gurnoor Brar dismissed Seifert for 38 from 43 deliveries in the 15th over. The run-out left New Zealand at 97 for five and halted a partnership that could have helped the hosts rebuild.

Rohit celebrated with a fist pump as Gill and Kohli ran over to congratulate him. The dismissal showed how quickly a match can shift through alert fielding: a moment of hesitation from the batters was enough for India to turn a routine single into a crucial wicket.

Kohli Takes a One-Handed Catch as New Zealand Slip Further

Kohli produced another standout moment in the 29th over, this time with a stunning catch. Anshul Kamboj bowled a good-length delivery outside off stump, and Nathan Smith edged a tentative shot towards the slip cordon. Kohli, stationed in the slips, reacted instantly and dived to his right, stretching out one hand to take the ball just above the ground.

The 37-year-old quickly got back to his feet and sprinted away in celebration as teammates gathered around him. Smith was dismissed for one from nine balls, leaving New Zealand struggling at 115 for seven. Kamboj earned the wicket with disciplined bowling, while Kohli’s athletic effort added another highlight to India’s fielding display.

India’s performance in the field was notable not only for the individual moments but also for their collective impact. The run-out removed a set batter, and Kohli’s catch prevented New Zealand from building lower-order momentum. Together, those dismissals kept the hosts under pressure through the middle overs.

Lower Order Adds Late Runs, but India Finish the Job

New Zealand’s lower order managed to add some late resistance. Blair Tickner scored a brisk 34 from 23 deliveries, offering a burst of runs when the innings needed one. His contribution gave the hosts a modest lift, but Gurnoor Brar dismissed him in the 41st over, and India continued to close in on the innings.

New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 185. The total reflected India’s ability to take wickets at regular intervals, even as the home side found a few useful runs late in the innings. For the visitors, the combination of pace bowling, alert catching and direct fielding created a commanding position in the opening match.

What the First ODI Could Mean for the Series

The Auckland contest offered an early indication of the factors likely to shape the series: how effectively New Zealand can manage India’s pace attack, whether India’s top order can make the most of a manageable target, and which side performs best in the field. Any series prediction remains tentative after one innings, but India’s bowling depth and energetic fielding provide clear reasons for confidence.

Kohli’s John Cena gesture may have supplied the day’s most entertaining clip, yet his catch and the wider fielding effort were just as important to the result. With Rohit’s run-out, Kamboj’s breakthrough and Brar’s wickets all contributing, India combined spectacle with substance in Auckland. The opening ODI therefore delivered both a memorable fan moment and a strong statement about the visitors’ intent.