At Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, Virat Kohli produced one of the more memorable on-field moments of the India versus New Zealand first ODI when he greeted Glenn Phillips at the crease with the ‘You Can’t See Me’ gesture made famous by WWE legend John Cena. The moment quickly drew attention, with Kohli waving his hand in front of his face in the style Cena has used throughout his career.
The gesture arrived at a significant point in New Zealand’s innings. The hosts were four wickets down for 84 runs when Phillips walked out to bat, and the Indian fielders, led by Kohli, were in full voice. India, who had won the toss through captain Shubman Gill and elected to field first, were firmly on top at that stage.
New Zealand were eventually dismissed in 40.2 overs for 185, with the Indian bowling attack working through the entire home batting line-up across the day-night fixture at Eden Park.
How did Kohli’s gesture connect to Phillips’s batting entrance?
The timing of Kohli’s celebration carried an extra layer of context. John Cena’s entrance theme, ‘The Time Is Now’, is a track that has been associated with Phillips during home matches in New Zealand, with DJs playing it as he walks out to bat. Kohli appeared to be fully aware of that connection when he produced the gesture precisely as Phillips arrived at the crease with New Zealand placed at 84 for 4.
Earlier in the same innings, Kohli had also been seen celebrating a one-handed catch with a bow-and-arrow gesture, which drew its own share of attention from fans and observers watching the match. The ‘You Can’t See Me’ moment, however, became the more widely discussed of the two celebrations given its direct reference to Phillips’s well-known entrance association.
How was Phillips dismissed and what was New Zealand’s final total?
Phillips managed 30 runs off 51 balls during his stay at the crease, hitting one six and two fours before he was dismissed. Arshdeep Singh was the bowler who ended his innings in the 35.1st over, with Shreyas Iyer taking the catch to complete the dismissal.
