As India and New Zealand gear up for their three-match ODI series starting on January 18, fans and experts alike are eagerly anticipating the records that could be broken during the match. Two players in particular, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are on the verge of making history.
Virat Kohli, who currently has 12754 runs at an average of 58.23 across 268 ODI matches, with 46 centuries and 64 fifties, is in line to become the fifth batter in ODI history to compose 13000+ runs in the ODI format, behind legendary players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, and Sanath Jayasuriya. Kohli will also make history as the second Indian player after Tendulkar to achieve this milestone. In India versus New Zealand ODI matches, Kohli is the third-highest run-scorer with 1378 runs at an average of 59.91 and is in line to become the second player after Tendulkar to score 1500+ ODI runs against New Zealand. Kohli is currently the joint second-highest century-scorer in India-New Zealand ODI matches alongside Tendulkar and Nathan Astle with five centuries each, and by hitting another century, he can equal Virender Sehwag’s record of most centuries (6) in India-New Zealand ODI matches. On home soil, Kohli has scored 5303 runs at 60.26, with 21 centuries. He is in line to surpass the 5500 run mark and the 1000 run mark against New Zealand at home.
On the other hand, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has scored 9596 runs at an average of 48.71, with 29 centuries and 47 half-centuries, and is in line to surpass the records of former players Adam Gilchrist and Mohammad Yousuf. Sharma has also smashed 703 runs against New Zealand in an ODI at home and has the opportunity to surpass former Indian player Ajay Jadeja’s record of 828 runs. Sharma has scored 3838 runs at home, with an average of 59.04, and is in line to surpass the 4000 run mark in ODI on home soil. He also has the chance to make 500 ODI runs against New Zealand at home. He currently has 341 runs against them.
India has maintained a dominant record against New Zealand on home soil, having won six consecutive ODI series against them. The last time the Black Caps toured India for an ODI series was in 2018. The Men in Blue will be looking to continue this streak by keeping their 100% record in ODI matches against New Zealand at home.