Indian superstar batsman Virat Kohli has been in a sensational form in 2023 in ODIs. At the time of writing, Virat Kohli has scored 871 runs in only 17 innings in ODIs in 2023 at an average of 67 with the help of 4 centuries and 4 fifties and remaining not out 4 times.
Kohli is the 6th leading ODI run-scorer in 2023, but he’s played less number of innings than the five batters ahead of him, and his average of 67 and is the third-best among the top 6 run-scorers.
Indian fans will be hoping that Virat Kohli continues his rich vein of form when he comes up against a tough opponent in New Zealand.
India and New Zealand will meet on Sunday for their World Cup 2023 encounter at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. This game is predicted to be the toughest contest for both so far as both are unbeaten with 4 wins in 4 games each. Unless this match ends in a tie or a washout, one team’s unbeaten run in the tournament will come to an end.
However, this match is also being touted as a rehearsal for a semi-final or the final of the World Cup 2023 for both these teams. Because both India and New Zealand are looking set to reach the semi-finals, and given their strengths they could even meet again in the final.
However, the challenge for India is not only on the pitch, but also off it, mentally. New Zealand defeated India in the 2019 World Cup semi-final and have a massive upper hand over India in ICC events.
It’s been 20 years since India defeated New Zealand in a World Cup (ODI + T20I) match. Overall, New Zealand have 8 wins and only 3 losses against India in ICC World Cups (ODI and T20 WC).
Stats and record of Virat Kohli against New Zealand:
In ODIs, Virat Kohli has a terrific record against New Zealand: in 29 knocks against the Kiwis, Kohli has scored 1433 runs at an average of 55, notching up 5 centuries and 8 fifties. However, Kohli has not gone past 36 in his last 5 ODI innings against New Zealand. And his last century in ODIs vs New Zealand came in 2017.
Further, Virat Kohli has faced New Zealand only once in an ODI World Cup – in the 2019 WC semi-final in which he was dismissed for only 1 run by Trent Boult.
