Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif believes star batter Virat Kohli will dominate the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand, setting a target of two centuries for the series.
Kaif pointed to Kohli’s recent scoring pace and his formidable history against the Black Caps as reasons for high expectations.
“I think in five ODIs, I expect two hundreds from him because his recent form — in every third or fourth inning, a century is coming,” Kaif said on his official YouTube channel ahead of the opening fixture.
The right-handed batter boasts an exceptional record against New Zealand. According to ESPNcricinfo, Kohli averages over 55 against the Kiwis in 50-over cricket, having tallied close to 1900 runs and seven centuries against them in his career.
His most memorable knock against the side came during the knockout stage of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. That innings vaulted him past Sachin Tendulkar to secure a historic 50th ODI century.
Kaif noted that high-pressure contests against disciplined bowling units routinely bring out the best in the veteran top-order batter.
“And against New Zealand, he loves to play; his record is fantastic. We remember the 2023 World Cup semi-final, his 50th ODI century… Against New Zealand, this player loves to play,” Kaif said. “Especially when there are challenging conditions and good bowling teams like Australia and New Zealand, you cannot write off Virat Kohli. He lifts his game even further. So with five ODIs, I expect two hundreds from him as a given.”
Mohammad Kaif warns India’s batting depth obsession could cost Kuldeep Yadav a spot in 1st ODI
Kaif believes wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is at serious risk of being benched for the opening ODI against New Zealand due to the team management’s recurring preference for extended batting depth.
Kaif highlighted that whenever the Indian team setup chooses to field eight recognized batters, the frontline wrist-spinner inevitably ends up as the casualty. According to him, fitting Kuldeep into the XI requires a tactical compromise: sacrificing a frontline fast bowler to accommodate an all-round seam option in Nitish Kumar Reddy.
“When this team carries eight batsmen, Kuldeep misses out. We have seen this many times. Kuldeep’s inclusion means you have to reduce one fast bowler — two fast bowlers plus Reddy, then he can play. But with three proper pacers plus Reddy and Axar Patel, you won’t be able to fit Kuldeep in,” Kaif continued.
The cricketer-turned-commentator argued that the management should maintain tactical flexibility rather than sticking to a rigid combination. Drawing parallels with recent T20 matches, Kaif pointed out how mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was drafted in when pace options were being targeted by opposition batters.
“However, if you keep an open mind – like they played Varun in the last T20 because fast bowlers were getting hit – considering wrist spin, bounce, and top-spin, you can play Kuldeep. Two fast bowlers, Reddy, Kuldeep, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir… otherwise, if you play three main fast bowlers, Kuldeep won’t play under this team’s mindset,” Kaif concluded.
The debate over Kuldeep’s inclusion comes as India prepare to kick off their five-match ODI campaign against the Black Caps at Eden Park in Auckland. While pace-friendly conditions and short boundaries frequently push team sheets toward seam-heavy attacks, Kaif remains steadfast that Kuldeep’s genuine wicket-taking pedigree deserves serious consideration over tail-end batting security.
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Edited by Ankush Das
