pursuit of 85th international century fever reaches its peak India land in rajkot For the second ODI against New Zealand On January 14, 2026. After a high-stakes series debut in Vadodara, where India took a 1-0 lead while chasing 301, the spotlight remains firmly on Virat Kohli.
Although India won by four wickets, King experienced a kind of heartbreak as he fell foul of the masterful 93 runs on 91 balls. Left just seven runs short of his 54th ODI century kyle jamison In the 40th over, Kohli’s innings was the backbone of the chase, featuring his signature flick-shots and unmatched strike rotation.
While the team celebrated the win, fans are now desperate for that elusive 85th century at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, a venue where Kohli has a record of remarkable consistency but is yet to cross triple figures in ODIs. With their current furious form, the flat deck of Rajkot ultimately provides them the perfect platform to bridge the gap of 7 runs.
Virat Kohli’s ODI record at Niranjan Shah Stadium (Rajkot)
Virat Kohli’s history at the Niranjan Shah Stadium (formerly SCA Stadium) is a tale of incredible individual debuts that have rarely resulted in Indian victories. across four different ODI matchesHe has scored four consecutive half-centuries, proving that he understands this pitch better than any other, yet he is still in search of his first century here.
1) Game 1: vs England (11 January 2013)
In the first ODI at this venue, Kohli chased a mammoth target of 326 runs. He immediately looked to be in great form, running 15 runs on 18 balls A rare lapse in concentration with three fours before he was caught out James Treadwell. Although his contributions were small in quantity, his intent on the beauty of batting was clear. However, despite half-centuries Gautam Gambhir And Yuvraj SinghIndia lost by a narrow margin of 9 runs, finishing at 316/9. This match established the stadium’s reputation as a high-scoring graveyard for bowlers.
2) Game 2: vs South Africa (Oct 18, 2015)
Chasing 271 on a pitch that had grip and turn, Kohli played an excellent role as anchor. he scored 77 runs on 99 ballsHit 5 fours and kept India with us ms dhoni. It looked like he would lead India to victory, but there was a tiring shot against him morne morkel He was out at long-on in the 45th over. His dismissal led to the team’s collapse and India eventually fell behind by 18 runs. It was a classic case of Kohli lifting heavy weight only to keep the finish out of reach.
3) Game 3: vs Australia (January 17, 2020)
In this high-pressure match, Kohli finally tasted success for the team in Rajkot. After a solid start from Dhawan, Kohli came in and demolished the Australian spin duo of Zampa and Agar. he hammered 78 runs on 76 ballsDisplay of elite running between the wickets. His partnership with KL Rahul took India to a mammoth score of 340/6. Unlike previous occasions, the bowlers supported their efforts and India bowled out Australia for 304 to win by 36 runs. This is Kohli’s highest score so far at the venue.
4) Game 4: vs Australia (September 27, 2023)
Chasing a mammoth target of 353 runs, Kohli once again proved that he is a different animal in Rajkot. He certainly looked the most intuitive batsman on the field, timing the delivery of the ball with ease 56 runs on 61 balls (5 fours, 1 six). He was set to play a big innings until he played Glenn Maxwell straight to mid-wicket. His dismissal at 171/3 ended India’s real hopes of achieving the target and they lost by 66 runs. This is his fourth 50+ score in as many games at the ground, taking his ground average 56.50.
See also: CSK fever rises in India vs New Zealand 1st ODI, Devon Conway responds to chants at BCA Stadium
Kohli’s rise in ODI after Test retirement
since its announcement Retirement from Test cricket on 12 May 2025Virat Kohli has entered an “expert phase” that is surprising the cricket world. Moving away from the long game after 123 Tests and 9,230 runs, he has focused his physical and mental reserves exclusively on the 50-over format. This change has resulted in a surprising peak in performance; Kohli has scored runs since June 2025 Four centuries in his last eight ODI matchesWhich includes two consecutive centuries against South Africa () at the end of 2025.
He achieved an important achievement in the current series against New Zealand Fastest player to reach 28,000 international runsS (624 innings), breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record by 20 innings. His current ODI average has peaked at over 58.00, and he is batting with a strike rate of 105+, which shows that King is more dangerous than ever when he only has one format to win. He is no longer playing for survival or position; He is playing with the clinical freedom of a man retiring at the apex of the World Cup 2027.
Also read: IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli reveals where he keeps his Player of the Match awards