Kohli needs 152 more ODI runs in New Zealand to pass Tendulkar’s tally of 821, the best by any Indian in that country, and he has four innings to find them. His 74 from 51 deliveries in Auckland on 4 November set up a five-wicket win and lifted his total from 596 to 670. That leaves 151 to equal the record, roughly 38 per innings. Four matches remain in the five-game series, so time is short, and a single failure would make the arithmetic uncomfortable.
The Eden Park chase lifts him to second
Rain shaped the opening game. The hosts folded for 185, and India’s reply was trimmed by the weather to 143, a total reached in 22.4 overs. His 74 from 51 deliveries supplied the backbone and carried his career tally in the country from 596 to 670. It was exactly the controlled chase in which he likes to play the anchor.
The innings moved him from third to second on India’s list of top scorers in New Zealand, past Virender Sehwag’s 598. Only Tendulkar remains above him, with 821 from 22 innings. Dhoni and Azharuddin sit further back on 590 and 517. Kohli’s average and fifties below are estimated using his numbers going into the series, and Sehwag’s fifties could not be confirmed.
Batter | Innings | Runs | Average | Centuries | Fifties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sachin Tendulkar | 22 | 821 | 39 | 1 | 5 |
Virat Kohli | 14 | 670 | 51.5 | 1 | 5 |
Virender Sehwag | 12 | 598 | 54.36 | 3 | 2 |
MS Dhoni | 12 | 590 | 84.28 | 0 | 6 |
Mohammad Azharuddin | 19 | 517 | 28.72 | 1 | 3 |
India in New Zealand 2026: Kohli ODI runs required from here
Kohli needs 152 to move past Tendulkar and 151 to level him. Four matches remain: Wellington on 7 November, Hamilton on 10 November, and two at Tauranga on 13 and 15 November. Spread over four innings, that works out to around 38 per visit to the crease. Three scores of 50 would leave him a single run short of equalling the record.
India picked him in all five squads, so he should get every innings on offer. Gill leads the side for the first three games, and Iyer takes over for the final two. Playing each match is the only guarantee Kohli has of getting the four innings he needs.
A patchy history on Kiwi soil
Before this series, Kohli had 596 runs from 13 innings in New Zealand at 49.66, including a lone century and four half-centuries. His highest, 123, came in Napier on 19 January 2014. Eden Park had been rather stingy, giving him only 59 across three earlier innings. Compared with his numbers elsewhere, that is a modest return for a batter of his standing.
The new innings pushes his average there to roughly 51.5. New Zealand had been the single SENA nation where his average dipped below 50, compared with 50.03 in Australia, 51.48 in England and 76.38 in South Africa, and no series award has come his way there. Against the Black Caps in all conditions, though, he owns 1,971 ODI runs from 37 games, comfortably more than Tendulkar’s 1,750 against the same side.
Sehwag and Dhoni now trail him
Going into the opener, Kohli trailed Sehwag by two and led Dhoni by six. The 74 turned that into leads of 72 and 80.
Their records show different strengths. Sehwag’s 12 innings brought three centuries and an average of 54.36. Dhoni’s 12 produced six fifties, no hundred, and an average of 84.28. Neither threatens Kohli now, which leaves Tendulkar as the lone benchmark.
A realistic target with little margin
One century would almost settle the matter, and two scores of 76 would do it as well. A failure in one innings means he must average about 51 in the remaining three. Weather interruptions like the one in Auckland may also shorten innings and cost him valuable chances.
Kohli has the form, the schedule and the record to chase. He needs only 38 a game, which is less than his average in New Zealand, and a century in Wellington would leave a modest 52 to find. So the India in New Zealand 2026 Kohli ODI runs question comes down to one big innings in Wellington or Hamilton, because the Tauranga pair offers a thin cushion if those fail.
Will Kohli finish the series above Tendulkar, or will rain and an early failure stop him short? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Indian batter has the highest ODI aggregate on New Zealand soil?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the mark with 821 runs. He scored them in 22 innings at an average of 39, with one hundred and five fifties, and Kohli is now 151 behind.
What is Kohli’s current ODI run total in New Zealand?
He stands on 670 after the first game. That is 596 before the series plus his 74 at Eden Park, which leaves him 151 short of Tendulkar’s record.
What is the best ODI score of Kohli in New Zealand?
His highest is 123, scored in Napier on 19 January 2014. One outlet lists it as 124, though 123 is the figure used here, and he has one hundred there.
Where does Dhoni stand on India’s list of top scorers in New Zealand?
He is fourth with 590 runs. Only Tendulkar, Kohli and Sehwag have scored more for India in New Zealand, and Dhoni averaged 84.28 across 12 innings.
How many ODIs are left in the tour after Auckland?
Four matches remain in a five-game series. Wellington hosts the second on 7 November, Hamilton the third on 10 November, and Tauranga stages the last two on 13 and 15 November.