SportsPosted at: Oct 31 2026 4:47PM


Rohit, Kohli return to nets ahead of New Zealand ODI series

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) The talismanic duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have resumed training in the nets as they stepped up preparations for India’s upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland.
The BCCI shared a video on social media showing the two senior batters putting in the hard yards ahead of the series, with the caption, “They’re back.”
The New Zealand tour will give both players another opportunity to fine-tune their game and build momentum ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Despite being in the latter stages of their careers, Rohit and Kohli remain key figures in India's plans in the 50-over format.
Kohli, the second-highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, has accumulated 15,109 runs, including 55 centuries. Rohit is third on the all-time list with 12,120 runs and 35 hundreds.
Kohli heads into the series on the back of a productive outing against the West Indies, where he scored 168 runs in three innings. His best effort came in the opening match, when he smashed an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls to help India chase down 296.
Rohit, too, has been in impressive form this year, scoring 604 runs in 12 ODI innings at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 104.67. His tally includes two centuries and two half-centuries, with a highest score of 138.
He was equally effective against the West Indies, finishing the series with 225 runs in three innings at an average of 75. His returns included a century and a fifty, with a top score of 101.
Nabi added in squad for first three ODIs
Pacer Auqib Nabi has been drafted into India's squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand as a replacement for the injured Prasidh Krishna, the BCCI announced on Saturday.
Nabi was initially named in the squad for the fourth and fifth matches but will now be available from the start of the five-match series, which begins in Auckland on November 4.
Prasidh was ruled out of the entire series after failing to recover fully from a left hamstring injury sustained during the home ODI series against the West Indies.
Nabi earned the selectors' attention with an impressive performance for India A in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln, where he claimed six wickets.
The pacer made his ODI debut against the West Indies in Guwahati last month but had a difficult outing, conceding 84 runs in 8.5 overs without taking a wicket. The match was played on a batting-friendly surface, with India chasing down 406 to win after five centuries were scored across the two teams, including Shubman Gill's unbeaten 223.
Meanwhile, India's Test regulars, including KL Rahul and Shubamn Gill, will miss the final two ODIs against New Zealand. Shreyas Iyer is set to lead the side in their absence. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will also be available only for the opening ODI before joining India A for the third four-day match against New Zealand A in Lincoln.
India’s updated ODI squad for the first three ODIs: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (w/k), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (w/k), Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy (only for the first ODI), Auqib Nabi.
India’s ODI squad for fourth and fifth ODIs: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (vice-captain, w/k), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (w/k), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav.UNI TB AAB
Tags: #Rohit# Kohli return to nets ahead of New Zealand ODI series
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