Virat Kohli needs 42 runs to become 2nd highest run-scorer:Rohit Sharma nears 16,000 ODI runs; records galore in sight for ‘RoKo’

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be back in action, during the upcoming 3-match ODI series against New Zealand. The legendary duo are on the cusp of breaking several records and achieving milestones in Team India’s first competitive fixtures of the year 2026. Both the stalwarts had last played in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, which India won 2-1. The India vs New Zealand ODI series starts on 11 January with the first match slated to be played at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Virat and Rohit earlier had featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where both were in good form. Virat Kohli chasing several Sachin Tendulkar records Virat has been in good form in the past few ODIs and is in pursuit of yet another record held by Sachin Tendulkar. He is just 42 runs away from becoming the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, going past Kumar Sangakkara. The star cricketer currently sits third in the list of most runs in international cricket with 27975, only behind Sangakkara and Tendulkar. Additionally, he is just 10 runs away from becoming India’s highest run-scorer in ODI wins against New Zealand. Virat could also break Tendulkar’s record of being the fastest batter to score 28,000 runs in international cricket. The Master Blaster had achieved the mark in 644 innings and Kohli, who needs just 25 more runs, has played 623 innings so far. Topping charts against New Zealand Not just in international cricket, but the upcoming three ODIs will give Virat the opportunity to lead run-scoring charts against New Zealand as well. The right-hander is just 94 runs away from becoming India’s highest scorer in ODIs against New Zealand. Kohli also has a chance of becoming the highest run-scorer at No 3 in ODIs, a format he has dominated. He is just 227 runs away from attaining the mark and given his recent good form, the record might be broken in this ODI series against New Zealand. Also, Kohli has nine hundreds against New Zealand in all formats and one more could see him become the batter with the most centuries against the Kiwis in international centuries. He currently has nine hundreds against New Zealand, joint-most with Brian Lara, Joe Root, Jacques Kallis and Tendulkar. Rohit Sharma could become the most successful opening batter Rohit Sharma is on the verge of breaking several records in three ODIs against New Zealand. The ‘Hitman’ is tied with Sachin in the list of most centuries as an opener in international cricket (45). He is also 67 runs away from scoring 16,000 runs as an opener. One more century could see him become the opening batter with the most centuries in international cricket. He also needs 67 runs to complete 16,000 runs as an opener. Also, by scoring another half-century, Rohit can become the player with the most fifty-plus scores against New Zealand across formats, surpassing Virender Sehwag. Rohit Sharma on the verge of surpassing Inzamam-Ul-Haq The legendary cricketer is on the verge of surpassing Inzamam-ul-Haq to become the seventh-highest run-scorer in ODIs. Rohit is just 224 runs away from going past the Pakistan legend. Rohit needs just two more sixes to register the most sixes as an opener in ODI cricket. The No 1 ranked ODI batter already has the most number of sixes in the format, having broken the record held by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi months ago. He is also seven sixes away from becoming the leading six-hitter against New Zealand in international cricket.