ROKO’s Horrible NZ Tour: Fans Disappointed!

Rohit and Kohli struggle in NZ ODI series

India’s senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have had a disappointing time with the bat in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand.

Rohit has managed only 30 runs in four innings, while Kohli has scored 86. The fifth and final ODI at Bay Oval has added to their concerns, with both experienced batters failing to make a big contribution.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, India‘s management will be concerned about the form of its two most experienced batters.

Rohit Sharma’s poor run continued in the fifth ODI as he was dismissed for just seven runs off 13 balls. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl first, and Matthew Fisher gave NZ an early breakthrough.

Rohit tried to play a flick off Fisher but failed to keep the shot down. Dean Foxcroft took the catch at mid wicket, sending the Indian opener back to the dressing room. It was another disappointing dismissal for Rohit, who has struggled to get going throughout the series.

His four scores in the series are 0, 23, 0 and 7. His only double digit score came in the second ODI, where he made 23 off 28 balls. He was dismissed for a duck in the first and fourth ODIs, leaving him with only 30 runs at an average of 7.50.

Virat Kohli has also failed to maintain consistency in the series. His 74 run knock in the first ODI was followed by scores of 7, 0 and 5, taking his total to 86 runs in four innings.

The latest failures of Rohit and Kohli will bring their performances under discussion as India look towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. Both players have been important parts of India’s batting line up for years, but their recent performances have not provided the consistency expected from them.

One disappointing series should not decide the future of two experienced players. Rohit and Kohli will need to respond with runs in their upcoming assignments if they want to remain central to India’s plans.