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.
T20 World Cup 2026: Nepal to play two warm-up matches against Mumbai
PSL 2026 to move towards auction, Lahore Qalandars oppose change
Auction system scrapped for upcoming Lanka Premier League, players to be picked through draft
‘I criticised him the maximum, but he needed it’ – Former selector lauds Harshit Rana after match-winning performance against New Zealand
