Cheteshwar Pujara backs Virat Kohli over Rohit Sharma for NZ ODI century

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Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara considers Virat Kohli slightly more likely than Rohit Sharma to score a century during the five-match ODI series against New Zealand starting November 4.

Pujara highlighted that Kohli’s designated number three position allows him to construct an innings as an anchor, whereas Rohit’s aggressive powerplay approach may require tactical adjustments given the challenging conditions in New Zealand.

Speaking on JioHotstar, Pujara opened up on the technical difference between the two batting positions.

“The way Rohit bats, he has a role of providing good starts in the powerplay. In New Zealand, maybe that role changes, so he could go for a century. But for Virat Kohli, the chances are slightly higher because he bats at number three. His game is more about playing the anchor role. So, for a batsman coming in at number three, scoring a century in the ODI format becomes a bit easier.” Pujara said.

Both Indian stars enter the series in strong form following a successful home assignment against the West Indies. Rohit Sharma aggregated 225 runs across three innings, averaging 75.00 with a strike rate exceeding 115, including a century (101) and a half-century. Meanwhile, Kohli scored 168 runs in three outings, headlined by an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls during a successful 296-run chase.

Pujara predicts outcome of the ODI series

Looking at the series ahead, Pujara projected a 2-2 series tie, suggesting that planned squad rotations across the five games could give the host nation a slight tactical advantage.

While expressing confidence in India’s performance across the opening three ODIs, he pointed out that the final two matches could present tougher challenges, while also predicting that weather disruptions might play a role.

“Two-all. In the first three matches, one team is playing, and then, in the last two matches, another Indian team is going to play. So, I think New Zealand have a slight advantage because you aren’t playing the same team in all five matches. I’m still backing the Indian team in the first three matches, as I feel they will do well. The last two matches could be a bit of a challenge, but it will be a hard-fought series. And it rains in New Zealand, so probably one match will be a washout,” he added.

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