Browsing: Rohit

India’s Virat Kohli has become the No. 1 batter in ODIs after more than four years, as per the latest ICC Rankings.

Kohli played a vital knock of 91-ball 93 to help India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the first ODI of a three-match series against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday. The performance helped the 37-year-old Indian displace compatriot Rohit Sharma, who slipped to third, at the top of the men’s batting rankings.

Kohli is in the middle of an incredible purple patch – scoring 74 not out, 135, 102, 65 not out and 93 in his last five innings in the 50-over format. As a result, he has become the No. 1 ODI batter for the first time since July 2021. He first became the top-ranked batter in ODIs in October 2013. This is his 11th different spell at the No. 1 ODI batter. As of today, he has been at the top for a total of 825 days – 10th most by any player, and the most by an Indian batter.

KL Rahul, who finished the chase for India with an unbeaten knock of 21-ball 29, gained one place to move to No. 11 while captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer stayed in No. 5 and No. 10 spots, respectively.

IND vs NZ 2nd ODI, Live Score

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, who hit 71-ball 84 to lead the Kiwis to a challenging score of 300, moved up one spot to No. 2.

Mitchell’s teammate Devon Conway climbed three spots to secure the 29th position as he continues to score runs at the top.

India pacer Mohammed Siraj has risen five spots to sit in 15th position along with Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the ODI bowler rankings.

New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, following a career-best performance of 4 for 41 runs, has jumped 27 places — moving up to joint 69th position, where he shares the spot with Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh.

(With inputs from PTI)

Published on Jan 14, 2026

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has backed Indian stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, rejecting narratives suggesting they should be phased out of the ODI setup. He insisted the duo remains vital to Indiaâ€s plans and should continue until the 2027 ODI World Cup, according to a report published on Monday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Itâ€s a fact that Virat and Rohit are the backbone of the Indian batting line-up, and the way they have played in the recent ODI series, it can confidently be said that they can play until the 2027 World Cup,†Afridi said.

Fans travel thousands of kilometres to watch Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma play

Afridi added that both should feature primarily in high-profile matches. “You need to preserve both these stars, and when India is playing against a weaker team, they can try some new players and rest Virat and Rohit,†he said.The former all-rounder also criticised Indiaâ€s head coach Gautam Gambhir, with whom he shared frosty on-field moments during their playing careers. “The way Gautam started his stint, it looked like he thought that what he thinks and says is right, but after some time, it was proved that you are not always right.â€Afridi also expressed joy over Rohit surpassing his ODI six-hitting record. “Records are meant to be broken, and this too is now bettered. I am happy that a player whom I have always liked has broken this record.â€â€œMy record of fastest century stood for nearly 18 years, but it was finally broken, so records are set by one player and another player comes and breaks it. This is cricket.â€Rohit went past Afridiâ€s tally of 351 ODI sixes during Indiaâ€s second ODI against South Africa in Raipur and now stands at 355 from 279 games. Reflecting on his association with Rohit during the 2008 IPL season, Afridi recalled: “I played alongside Rohit for the Deccan Chargers in my only Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008, and at that time, I liked him.“During practice sessions of the Charges, I watched him bat, and his class impressed me. I knew that one day Rohit would play for India, and he has proved himself as a classy batter,†he said.

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Shardul Thakur and Rohit Sharma (AFP Photo) NEW DELHI: Indian pacer Shardul Thakur, who was traded to Mumbai Indians (MI) from Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 2 crore ahead of IPL 2026, said former skipper Rohit Sharma played a key role in helping him feel confident and express himself freely. The 34-year-old, part of Indiaâ€s Test squad during the England tour earlier this year, is hopeful of reliving the “good old days” at his former franchise.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Abhi aur pata chalega jab saath me baithenge toh. Kaafi masti hogi,” said Shardul, looking forward to reuniting with his “chaos partner†Rohit.

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Reflecting on their bond, he added, “He made me comfortable, he allowed me to be free with him, he allowed me to express myself. We became comfortable with each other and he played a major part in it,” as quoted on the Mumbai Indians website.Shardulâ€s association with MI began long before his IPL career took off — back in 2010, when he joined the squad as a support bowler. He said that early exposure helped shape his cricketing journey.”I was lucky enough to experience the dressing room early in my days. I was already feeling comfortable in front of senior players. Somewhere down the line, whatever the way I was treated during Mumbai Indians camp also, that small gesture from the Mumbai Indians helped me a lot to grow in my career.”I was made to play practice games. I bowled with a new ball, so that boosted my morale and confidence to another level, and I was picking wickets.”He credited coaches Rahul Sanghvi and Paras Mhambrey for guiding him through his developmental years, but said the most surreal part was sharing space with icons.”I was seeing Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Andrew Symonds, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu… and Iâ€m sharing the same dressing room with them. It was surreal,” said Shardul, who has represented India in 13 Tests, 47 ODIs and 25 T20Is since his debut in 2017.Shardul also shared memories from his younger days in Mumbai, when simply catching a glimpse of cricket royalty felt magical.”So whenever the train passed, we used to get up from our seats, come near the door, and try to sneak in and see who’s practising. Even getting a glimpse of the great Sachin Tendulkar playing, we would have been happy,” he recalled.

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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (BCCI Photo) NEW DELHI: At present, the Indian think tank is walking a tightrope, trying to build the team around a fresh crop of players while maintaining links with the experienced core. In that context, head coach Gautam Gambhir, who oversees this process, was clearly pleased to see contributions coming from both ends of the spectrum.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Providing weight to the senior contingent, Virat Kohli emerged Player of the Series in the ODIs against South Africa, scoring two centuries and a fifty — a swift return to the highs he consistently reached from 2015 onwards. Rohit Sharma added a couple of fifties, underlining his enduring touch and class.

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Gambhir expressed hope that the duo will continue delivering such performances, which will keep the ODI side in strong shape.“Look, theyâ€re quality players. I’ve said it many times as well that they’re world-class players. They are quality players in this format and their experience is really important in the dressing room,†Gambhir said at the post-match press meet after Indiaâ€s nine-wicket win that sealed the one-day series 2-1.“They’re doing what they do. They’ve been doing it for such a long time for Indian cricket. Hopefully, they can continue doing the same, which is always going to be important come the white-ball format and the 50-over format,†he added.The rest given to seniors Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, coupled with the injury-enforced absence of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, provided an opportunity to test some of the younger players†skillsets. Gambhir was particularly impressed with the growth of Harshit Rana as a bowling all-rounder.“That’s one of the reasons why we are trying to probably develop someone like Harshit, who can actually bat at No. 8 and contribute with a bat.“That’s how we need to find the balance, because come South Africa in two years’ time (2027 ODI WC), we would be needing three proper seamers as well. And if he can continue to develop as a bowling all-rounder, it’s going to give us a massive boost,†he said.Gambhir was also pleased with the outings of seamers Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna in the series.“With Jaspreet Bumrah coming back and what we saw of Arshdeep, Prasidh and Harshit in this series was incredible because all these three guys do not have a lot of experience, especially in 50-over format. They’ve hardly played, what, less than 15 ODIs. But they’ve done a fabulous job,†he said.

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Rohit Sharma (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) Former Indian cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Irfan Pathan commended Rohit Sharma’s performance as he scored his 61st ODI fifty during the third match between India and South Africa in Visakhapatnam.Opening the innings with Jaiswal, Rohit scored 75 runs from 73 balls. The duo established a 155-run partnership at a run-a-ball pace while chasing 271.

Fans travel thousands of kilometres to watch Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma play

During his 75-run innings, the former Team India captain achieved the milestone of 20,000 international runs. His knock included seven fours and three sixes.”Hitman isn’t going anywhere! Has plenty left in the tank.. pillar of indian cricket,” Kaif posted on X.At 38 years old and having retired from Tests and T20Is, questions arose about Rohit’s ODI future and his ability to perform until the 2027 World Cup. His recent form shows 340 runs in his last five ODI innings.”Unreal consistency at the age of 38 by Rohit sharma. He is in total control,” Irfan Pathan shared on X.Rohit’s partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal marked his 35th century opening stand in ODIs. This achievement places him second on the all-time list, behind only Sachin Tendulkar who has 40 such partnerships.India won the toss and chose to field first in the match. South Africa managed to score 270 runs before being dismissed in 47.5 overs.In the chase, India displayed impressive batting prowess. Jaiswal remained not out on 116 runs.Rohit contributed 75 runs while Virat Kohli added 65 runs to the total.India secured a comfortable nine-wicket victory, winning the series 2-1.

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Despite the growing chatter around their futures and the teamâ€s long-term roadmap, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma appeared unfazed. (AFP Photo) NEW DELHI: Fresh off their commanding win in the series opener in Ranchi, senior pros Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showed no signs of easing up as they put in a high-intensity training shift ahead of the second ODI. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite the growing chatter around their futures and the teamâ€s long-term roadmap, both Kohli and Rohit appeared unfazed. The experienced pair trained side by side, facing a barrage of deliveries from Indiaâ€s throw-down specialists during an extended net session.

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Kohli, in particular, appeared sharp and focused, taking on Raghuâ€s right-arm pace and Nuwan Seneviratneâ€s left-arm angles with intent. Under the floodlights, the former captain timed most balls sweetly, though a few fiery deliveries from Raghu zipped past his bat — a reminder of the pace on offer.Head coach Gautam Gambhir watched the action closely, positioned between the nets and keeping a keen eye on proceedings.However, one moment drew attention — after finishing his batting stint, Kohli rested both bats on his shoulders and walked past Gambhir without any exchange. Given recent headlines involving the two, the moment sparked instant curiosity.Rohit, who wrapped up his session shortly after, did pause briefly to chat with Gambhir before heading indoors.Amid the buzz, a clip of former India pacer Sreesanth has been circulating on social media, where he makes a clear appeal to the head coach.“Roko ko mat roko (donâ€t stop Rohit and Kohli). I will just suggest to Gautam Gambhir that he shouldnâ€t stop Rohit and Virat at all. Until they want to feature in the ODI series, they should keep on playing. Because they are a thousand times better than the ones currently playing. So all the best to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. They are brilliant players,†Sreesanth says in the video.Watch the video hereIndia currently lead the three-match series 1-0 and will be aiming to seal the contest in Raipur.

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Virat Kohli, left, and Rohit Sharma during the first ODI cricket match of series between India and South Africa, at JSCA International Stadium Complex, in Ranchi, Jharkhand. (PTI Photo) Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz said his team will be in a better position against India at the 2027 ODI World Cup if Indiaâ€s senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli do not play in the tournament. The 2027 World Cup will be held in South Africa. India finished as runners-up in the previous edition in 2023, held in India.Rohit and Kohli, who have already stepped away from Tests and T20Is, are still active in the ODI format. Both are currently involved in the three-match series against South Africa. In the opening ODI at Ranchi, Rohit scored a half-century while Kohli hit his 52nd ODI century, helping India secure a 17-run win and take a 1-0 lead.

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During an interview with Sports Tak, Gurbaz said other teams would feel more confident in the World Cup without the presence of these two experienced players in Indian, but he also admitted that their exclusion is not a realistic scenario.”As an Afghanistan player. I will be happy if they are not in the (Indian) team. Because if they are not in the (Indian) team, we will have more chance to win. They are legends,” Gurbaz said, adding, “There is no chance for someone to come and say that Virat shouldn’t be in the team and Rohit shouldn’t be in the team. If they’re not in the team, every team will be happy. So they are such big names and they are very good players,” Gurbaz told Sports Tak.Kohli has the most hundreds in ODI cricket, while Rohit is the leading six-hitter in the format.Both are set to play the second ODI against South Africa on December 3 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur.

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Rohit Sharma broke a long-standing record, surpassing Pakistanâ€s Shahid Afridi to become the batter with the most sixes in ODI cricket. (AFP Photo) NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is on the verge of achieving a monumental milestone in international cricket. Ahead of the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday, Rohit stands just 41 runs away from becoming only the fourth Indian to breach the 20,000-run mark in international cricket. If he reaches the landmark, he will join an elite club featuring Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid. Tendulkar tops the chart with 34,357 runs, followed by Kohli with 27,808 and Dravid with 24,064.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!So far in his international career, Rohit has scored 19,959 runs in 503 matches at an impressive average of 42.46, including 50 centuries and 110 half-centuries. His runs are spread across formats with 4,301 in Tests, 11,427 in ODIs, and 4,231 in T20Is.

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Rohit has had a solid run in ODIs this year as well, scoring 561 runs in 12 matches at an average of 51.00, with two hundreds and three fifties, including a best of unbeaten 121. Since stepping away from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup and opting out of Test cricket in May, ODI cricket is now his sole active format. After the South Africa series, he is likely to feature in the ODI series against New Zealand at home.His recent form reflects consistency and intent. During the Australia tour last month, Rohit struck a fifty and a hundred in the three-match ODI series. He carried that momentum into the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi, where he scored a fluent 57 off 51 balls.Rohit also broke a long-standing record during that match, surpassing Pakistanâ€s Shahid Afridi to become the batter with the most sixes in ODI cricket. Entering the match needing three sixes to go past Afridiâ€s tally of 351, Rohit reached the milestone in style and now sits at 352 sixes—achieved in just 269 innings, a full 100 fewer than Afridi.

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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (AFP Photo) NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma appeared unfazed by the growing chatter around their futures, focusing instead on a demanding net session under the floodlights ahead of Indiaâ€s second ODI against South Africa on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speculation has intensified over what lies ahead for the senior duo, especially with the road to the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 now part of the discussion.

Still have doubts? Virat Kohli blows World Cup trumpet with another masterclass

But fresh off back-to-back match-winning performances against Australia and South Africa, neither Kohli nor Rohit showed any signs of easing up during training on Tuesday.Kohli looked sharp and assertive, taking on throw-down experts Raghu (right-arm) and Nuwan Seneviratne (left-arm), who pushed the pace throughout the session. The battle was compelling to watch — Kohli found the middle of the bat repeatedly, though there were moments when Raghuâ€s extra pace beat him.Head coach Gautam Gambhir stood positioned between the two nets, observing the session closely. When Kohli wrapped up his batting, he rested both bats on his shoulders and walked past Gambhir without exchanging a word — a moment that would not go unnoticed considering the recent narrative surrounding Indian cricket.Rohit, who followed Kohli into the nets and then toward the dressing room shortly after, did pause briefly for a conversation with Gambhir before heading inside.While all eyes naturally gravitated toward the two senior players, training intensity remained high across the nets as India look to clinch the series after taking a 1-0 lead with Sunday’s win in Ranchi.With the match to be played on a black-soil surface at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, the batting group trained with intent, showcasing aggression from the outset.Yashasvi Jaiswal sent multiple deliveries soaring over the leg side boundary, and even rolled his arm over to bowl to Rishabh Pant — the last batter to take his turn in the nets.

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Rohit Sharma broke the record for the most sixes hit in men’s one-day internationals as India edged South Africa by 17 runs in the opening game of their series in Ranchi.

After being asked to bat, India posted 349-8 with Virat Kohli hitting a record-extending 52nd ODI century with a brilliantly paced 135 off 120 balls.

He shared 136 with Rohit, who made 57 off 51 balls, for the second wicket.

Rohit, who already held the record for the most sixes across formats in international cricket (now 642), hit three sixes to overtake Shahid Afridi’s 15-year record of 351 ODI maximums.

India were 161-2 in the 22nd over when the former captain was dismissed and run-scoring became more difficult in the middle overs but the hosts were superbly marshalled by Kohli.

He also shared 76 with stand-in captain KL Rahul, who then took over when Kohli was dismissed, to hit 60 off 56 balls.

South Africa slipped to 11-3 in reply and 130-5 but Matthew Breetzke (72 off 80) and Marco Jansen (70 off 39) gave them hope with a 97-run stand.

Both were dismissed in the 34th over by Kuldeep Yadav and South Africa’s hopes seemed over at 228-7.

However, Corbin Bosch (67 off 51) put on partnerships with Prenelan Subrayen and Nandre Burger, who both made 17, to leave the Proteas needing 37 from 18 balls.

Bosch was farming the strike and turning down singles and left 18 from the final over, but he skied the second ball from Prasidh Krishna to cover.

The second game in the three-match series takes place on Wednesday (08:00 GMT).

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