Eden Park in Auckland hosted the first ODI of India’s five-match series against New Zealand on November 4, 2026, and Virat Kohli used the occasion to reach a landmark that had stood in Ricky Ponting’s name alone. Kohli’s knock of 74 took his tally of 50-plus scores against the Black Caps in ODIs to 18, drawing level with the Australian great who had held the record outright. The innings was the opening fixture of a five-match series between the two sides.
That same knock carried a second milestone. Kohli became the first batter anywhere in the world to record 50 scores of 50 or more in away ODIs, a feat he completed during the same innings at Eden Park. His overall numbers against New Zealand in the 50-over format now include 7 centuries and 10 half-centuries, and his aggregate of 1,971 runs against them also matches Ponting’s run tally against the same opposition.
Speaking of the game, India, electing to bowl first in rainy conditions, put on a brilliant collective effort with the ball to dismiss the Black Caps for just 185. India’s batting innings was platformed by Kohli, who scored 74 off 51 balls, hitting 13 fours and a six as India romped home with five wickets in hand.
Where do other leading batters rank for 50+ scores against New Zealand in ODIs?
Below the shared mark of 18 held by Kohli and Ponting, the next names on the ODI list are Dean Jones of Australia and Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, who each finished with 14 fifty-plus scores against New Zealand, placing them third on that particular table.
Three batters sit one step further back on 13 apiece. Babar Azam of Pakistan, Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka and Sachin Tendulkar of India each reached 13 fifty-plus scores against New Zealand in ODIs, grouping three of the format’s most prolific run-scorers at the same level on that list.
How does the picture change when all formats are included?
Across ODIs, Tests and T20Is combined, the standings at the top are shared by three players. Babar Azam of Pakistan and Ponting of Australia both had 27 fifty-plus scores against New Zealand across formats before this series, and Kohli’s Eden Park knock moved him alongside them on 27 as well.
Joe Root of England sits one place behind that trio with 26 such scores against New Zealand across all formats. Tendulkar, whose ODI tally against the Black Caps was noted above, has 25 fifty-plus scores against them when all three formats are counted, placing him fifth on the combined list. The five-match series between India and New Zealand in 2026 continues after this opening fixture at Eden Park.
