Before the five-match series against New Zealand, which begins on November 4, two of India’s most experienced ODI players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, had a vigorous net session on October 30 at Auckland’s Eden Park. The Indian cricket board uploaded a video of the practice with the tagline, “They’re back.”
Beyond the outcome, the bilateral competition is significant. Every ODI India match now has a direct impact on their preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup, therefore individual performance and team selection are closely examined. Rohit Sharma and Kohli are now only playing 50-over international cricket after quitting from Tests and T20 Internationals, respectively.
They’re back 😍😍
#TeamIndia | @imVkohli | @ImRo45 https://t.co/pmFz19G9DU
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 30, 2026
What was Virat Kohli’s record in One-Day Internationals prior to this series?
Kohli’s most recent ODI assignment before coming to New Zealand was a three-match series against the West Indies, in which he made 168 runs in three innings. The game’s high point came when he began a match against India chasing 296 and finished undefeated on 139 from 88 deliveries, showcasing his continued superiority in run chases.
He is at the heart of India’s ODI batting tactics due to his output. Kohli is ranked second all-time in ODI run-scoring with 15,109 runs, including 55 hundreds. Both figures must still be verified by an editor before publication.
Before the New Zealand series, what is Rohit Sharma’s 2026 ODI record?
Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, has consistently performed admirably this year. He has 604 runs in 12 ODI innings in 2026, averaging 50.33 and scoring at a strike rate of 104.67. His greatest score was 138, and he has two hundred and two half-centuries.
His performance against the West Indies in the previous series was particularly impressive. Over three games, Rohit Sharma scored 225 runs at a strike rate of 115 and an average of 75.00. He led the innings with a score of 101 not out, including a century and a fifty.
Although all figures are marked for editor verification, his total ODI career score is 12,120 runs from 35 hundreds. The New Zealand series offers both senior batters an excellent opportunity to develop their 50-over talents at the highest level as the 2027 ODI World Cup approaches.
Riya Verma is a cricket news editor passionate about delivering accurate and timely cricket coverage. She focuses on editing and publishing match updates, player news, tournament developments, and important stories while maintaining a clear and reader-friendly approach.
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