Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play together on New Zealand soil for the first time since February 2020. Both of them last played in the third T20 International in Hamilton on 29 February 2020. After this, they will play together in the first match of the five-match ODI series on November 4. After retiring from Test and T-20 International, both are now playing only ODIs. In such a situation, this series is an opportunity to strengthen our claim for the 2027 ODI World Cup. This could also be the last tour of both of them to New Zealand. What challenges will Rohit-Virat face in the series, what has been the record of both in New Zealand and why this tour is important for making a place in the World Cup, you will know in this story… Kohli’s record in New Zealand is better than Rohit’s. On New Zealand pitches, fast bowlers are helped by wind and bounce. When the ball swings, it becomes a challenge for the batsmen to play it at the right time. In these circumstances, Virat Kohli’s record has been better than Rohit Sharma. Kohli is just 4 runs away from completing 600 ODI runs in New Zealand. He has scored 596 runs in 13 ODIs there. His average is 49.66 and strike rate is 91.41. During this period he has scored one century and 4 half-centuries. At the same time, Rohit has scored 437 runs in 14 ODIs in New Zealand. His average is 36.41 and strike rate is 72.95. He has 4 half-centuries to his name, but till now he has not been able to score an ODI century here. Kohli scored the only century in New Zealand 12 years ago. Virat Kohli’s most memorable ODI innings in New Zealand came on 19 January 2014 in Napier. He had scored 123 runs on 111 balls. This is his only ODI century on New Zealand soil. On the same tour, he also played innings of 78 runs on 65 balls in Hamilton and 62 runs on 70 balls in Auckland. At the same time, Rohit Sharma’s highest ODI score in New Zealand is 87 runs. He played this innings on 26 January 2019 at Mount Maunganui. With Shikhar Dhawan he added 154 runs for the first wicket. Dhawan scored 66 runs. With the help of this partnership, India scored 324 runs for 4 wickets in 50 overs and won the match by 90 runs. Rohit was chosen player of the match. At that time Virat Kohli was the captain of the team. India won this series 4-1. Rohit and Kohli are in the top-3 among the highest ODI run scorers for India, not only in New Zealand but also in the history of Indian ODI cricket. Sachin Tendulkar is at number one among the batsmen who have scored the most ODI runs for India with 18,426 runs. Kohli is at second place with 15,109 runs and Rohit is at third place with 12,120 runs. Kohli has scored 55 centuries and 79 half-centuries in 317 ODIs. At the same time, Rohit has scored 35 centuries and 63 half-centuries in 291 matches. Rohit’s best score is 264 runs. This is also the highest individual score in ODI cricket. Kohli is second and Rohit is seventh in the list of highest ODI run scorers in the world. Rohit’s good form in 2026, but struggles in the last series against New Zealand. Rohit Sharma has been in good form in the ODI format in 2026. He has scored 604 runs in 12 innings this year. His average is 50.33 and strike rate is 104.67. During this period he scored 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries. However, his bat did not play in the ODI series against New Zealand in India in January 2026. He could score only 61 runs in 3 innings. His average was 20.3 and his best score was 26 runs. Rohit’s overall record against New Zealand and his performance on the ground there are different. He has scored 1,134 runs in 32 ODI innings played against New Zealand on all grounds. His average is 36.6 and strike rate is 85.3. During this period he scored 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries. Both his centuries were scored in India. 147 runs in Kanpur in 2017 and 101 runs in Indore in 2023. Performance is essential for a World Cup berth. The 2027 ODI World Cup is to be played in South Africa. Rohit and Kohli have already made it clear that they will play in this tournament. But the place in the team will depend on the performance and the decision of the selectors. In the 2025-26 season, both of them also played domestic ODI cricket and participated in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The 2027 World Cup could be a chance for Rohit to fulfill his unfulfilled dream of 2011. He was not a part of the Indian team that won the World Cup in 2011. In 2023, he captained the team, but India lost in the final. At the same time, Kohli was a part of the team that won the World Cup in 2011 under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. India’s record in New Zealand also shows a challenge. India’s ODI record in New Zealand shows that it has not been easy to defeat the host team there. Between 1976 and 2022, India played 45 ODIs in New Zealand. Of these, 14 were won, while 26 were defeated. One match was tied and 4 matches had no result.
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