Virat Kohli level with Ponting on 1,971 ODI runs vs NZ

Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 59 off 43 balls as India beat New Zealand by 5 wickets in the first ODI in Auckland on Wednesday, and the innings took him to 1,971 ODI runs against New Zealand, level with Ricky Ponting. India lead the five-match series 1-0.

New Zealand made 185 in 40.2 overs. India’s second innings was reduced to 32 overs, and they reached the DLS target of 143 by finishing on 143/5 in 22.4 overs.

The innings and the records

Rohit Sharma was out for 0 off 6 balls, but Kohli and Shubman Gill, unbeaten on 36 off 51, saw India home. Outlook India reports that Kohli’s record against New Zealand now reads 37 matches and 7 hundreds, the most by any batter against them in ODIs.

The knock brought two other marks. Outlook India reports he became the first player to complete 50 scores of 50 or more in away ODIs, and Tribune India reports he is the first batter to average 50-plus in all SENA nations in ODIs.

Form since his Test retirement

Since retiring from Test cricket, Kohli has scored 1,002 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 77.07, with four centuries and six fifties. In 2026 he has made 626 runs in 10 ODI innings at 69.55 and a strike rate of 120.61, with two hundreds, four fifties and a best of 139*.

How India won

Arshdeep Singh took 4 for 70 in 10 overs, Gurnoor Brar had 3 for 44 and Anshul Kamboj 2 for 22. Tim Seifert top-scored for New Zealand with 38 and Blair Tickner hit 34 off 23 balls.

What’s next

The second ODI is in Wellington on Saturday, 7 November, at 7:30 AM IST, and it gives Kohli the chance to take the record for most ODI runs against New Zealand outright. Four matches remain in the series, which runs until 15 November, with the third ODI on Tuesday, 10 November.