Rohit Sharma got a start in the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday, January 12. However, he failed to convert it into
a substantial score, as he got out for 26, with Kyle Jamieson getting the better of him. Rohit belted three fours and two sixes during his 29-ball stay at the crease.
However, Rohit did stitch an important 39-run stand off 52 balls alongside skipper Shubman Gill at the top of the order. The start was crucial as India were chasing a 301-run target against a determined Black Caps line-up. The Men in Blue eventually won the match with four wickets and an over to spare. Rohit has four 50-plus scores in his last six appearances in ODI cricket. He will look to notch up a big score in the second ODI and help India take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The highly-anticipated second ODI takes place at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday, January 14. Rohit has a stunning record in ODI cricket at the aforementioned venue. In three ODIs, he has amassed 288 runs at an average of 62.66 and a strike rate of 107.42. He has registered two half-centuries in his three ODI appearances in Rajkot.
Most runs in ODIs at Rajkot
| Sr. No. | Player Name | Country | Matches | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 50s | 100s |
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | 4 | 226 | 56.50 | 87.59 | 78 | 3 | — |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | India | 3 | 188 | 62.66 | 107.42 | 81 | 2 | — |
| 3 | Steve Smith | Australia | 2 | 172 | 86.00 | 105.52 | 98 | 2 | — |
| 4 | Marnus Labuschagne | Australia | 2 | 118 | 59.00 | 112.38 | 72 | 1 | — |
| 5 | Shikhar Dhawan | India | 2 | 109 | 54.50 | 91.59 | 96 | 1 | — |
Rohit's highest score at the venue remains the blistering 81 off just 57 balls that he scored against Australia in the third ODI on September 27, 2023. The Nagpur-born has also hit the most sixes (8) in ODI cricket at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. MS Dhoni and David Warner are joint-second, having hit the ball over the ropes on four occasions each.
