New Delhi: After surpassing Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest batter to score 28000 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand at Vadodara, Virat Kohli
is on the verge of breaking another record held by the Master Blaster. The Delhi batter is on a roll in the 50-over format in both international and domestic cricket. His 93 off 91 was his fifth successive 50+ score in 50-over format, a run which began in Australia last year.
Kohli, who has scored consecutive 50+ scores multiple times, in 2012, 2013, 2019, 2023, and 2025, can surpass the likes of Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rahul Dravid, who have also scored 50+plus scores in five successive games, if he notches up another 50+ score in Rajkot on Wednesday.
Can Kohli surpass Tendulkar?
The prolific batter is also just one run away from becoming the highest run-getter for India against New Zealand. If Kohli gets off the mark in Rajkot on Wednesday, he will surpass none other than Tendulkar’s record of the most runs by an Indian against New Zealand in the format. Currently, he is level with Tendulkar on 1,750 runs against the Kiwis in ODIs.
After making a winning start by sealing the series-opener by four wickets in Vadodara, India will be aiming to seal the series in Rajkot to maintain their 100 per cent home record against the Blackcaps. The Men In Blue are unbeaten at home in the previous seven series meetings with the Kiwis on home soil.
The home side lost Washington Sundar for the remainder of the series due to a side strain, and while the selectors roped in Delhi’s Ayush Badoni, India are likely to include another all-rounder in Nitish Kumar Reddy into the playing XI.
Squads:
India:
Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ayush Badoni, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana.
New Zealand:
Michael Bracewell (c), Devon Conway (wk), Mitchell Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox, Michael Rae.
