the pursuit of 85th international century reaches the limit of fever India Lands in Rajkot For the 2nd ODI against New Zealand January 14, 2026. The spotlight remains on after the high-profile series opener in Vadodara, where India posted 301 to take a 1-0 lead. Virat Kohli.
Although India won by four wickets, the King suffered a kind of nausea and fell on the master. 91 balls from 93. Just seven runs shy of his 54th ODI ton Kyle Jamieson Kohli’s knock in the 40th over was the backbone of the chase with his signature shots and unique strike spin.
As the team celebrates the win, fans are now desperate for that elusive 85th ton at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, where Kohli holds a remarkable streak record but is yet to cross the triple figure in ODIs. With his current red-hot form, Rajkot’s flat deck provides the perfect stage for him to finally bridge that 7-run gap.
Virat Kohli’s ODI record at Niranjan Shah Stadium (Rajkot).
Virat Kohli’s history at Niranjan Shah Stadium (formerly SCA Stadium) is a tale of incredible individual starts that resulted in rare Indian victories. Ahead four separate ODI appearanceshe has scored four consecutive half-centuries, proving that he reads this pitch better than anyone, but is still chasing his maiden century here.
1) Game 1: v England (January 11, 2013)
In the first ODI at this venue, Kohli embarked on a massive chase of 326. 15 runs off 18 balls I saw him caught before a rare break in concentration with three boundaries James Tredwell. Although his contribution was small in volume, his intention was clear in a beautiful stroke. However, despite the passage of half a century Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj SinghIndia finished with 316/9 and lost by 9 runs. This match earned the stadium a reputation as a high-scoring graveyard for bowlers.
2) Game 2: vs South Africa (October 18, 2015)
Chasing 271 on a pitch that began to catch and turn, Kohli played a masterpiece of the anchor role. He scored a goal 77 runs off 99 ballsHitting 5 boundaries and keeping India on course MS Dhoni. He was confident of taking India home but batted tiredly Morne Morkel At 45, he saw the hole for a long ten. His dismissal led to a collapse and India eventually trailed by 18 runs. It was a classic case of Kohli doing the heavy lifting only to fail to finish.
3) Game 3: vs Australia (January 17, 2020)
Kohli finally tasted team success in Rajkot in this high-pressure encounter. After a solid start by Dhawan, Kohli came in and dismantled the Australian pair of Zampa and Agar. He beat 78 runs off 76 ballsshowing the elite working between the gates. His partnership with KL Rahul took India to a massive 340/6. Unlike on previous occasions, the bowlers supported his effort and India bowled out Australia for 304 to win by 36 runs. This remains Kohli’s highest score at the venue till date.
4) Game 4: vs Australia (September 27, 2023)
In a mammoth chase of 353, Kohli once again proved to be a different animal in Rajkot. He looked the most comfortable batter on the park, timing the ball with ease 56 runs off 61 balls (5 fours, 1 six). He was all set for a big run until he played a Glenn Maxwell delivery straight to mid-wicket. His dismissal at 171/3 ended India’s realistic hopes of a chase and they lost by 66 runs. It marked his fourth 50+ points in as many games on the floor and left him with a major average 56.50.
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Kohli’s ODI surge came after his post-Test retirement
Since its announcement He retired from Test cricket on 12 May 2025Virat Kohli has entered his ‘expert phase’ which has stunned the cricketing world. Retiring from the long game after 123 Tests and 9,230 runs, he has focused his physical and mental resources on the 50-over format only. This change resulted in an amazing peak in performance; Since June 2025, Kohli has scored four centuries in the last eight ODIsIncluding a back-to-back ton against South Africa () at the end of 2025.
In the current series against New Zealand, he reached a magnificent milestone Fastest player to reach 28,000 international runsetc (624 innings), breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record by 20 innings. His current ODI average has risen above 58.00 and he is batting at a strike rate of 105+, suggesting that the Royal is more dangerous than ever when he only has one format to conquer. He no longer plays for survival or rank; he plays with the clinical freedom of a man planning to retire at the very peak of the 2027 World Cup.
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