Virat Kohli is set to play only his second ODI at the Wellington Regional Stadium when India face New Zealand in the 2nd match of their five-match series on November 7, 2026. His sole previous appearance at that ground came in January 2014, and it ended in defeat despite a strong personal contribution.

In that 2014 encounter, Kohli scored 82 runs while India chased a target of 304 and fell short. He also contributed with the ball, returning figures of 1 for 36 from 7 overs. The result left him without an ODI win at the Wellington venue, a record he will be looking to change this Saturday.

Ahead of that fixture, India lead the five-match series 1-0 after winning the 1st ODI at Eden Park, Auckland, on November 5, 2026. Chasing a revised target of 143 under the DLS method, India reached the total in 22.4 overs, winning by 5 wickets. Kohli was central to that chase, scoring 74 off just 51 balls, an innings that included 13 fours and 2 sixes. He shared a 113-run partnership with captain Shubman Gill during that match. Rohit Sharma, by contrast, fell for a duck in the same game at Eden Park.

Wellington Regional Stadium is noted for its long straight boundaries, though the square boundaries are considerably shorter, a dimension that could influence how batters approach their innings in the 2nd ODI.

How has Kohli performed in ODIs against New Zealand overall?

Across 13 ODI innings in New Zealand, Kohli has accumulated 596 runs at an average of 49.66, a record that underlines his consistent output against this opposition. That tally includes 1 century and 4 fifties, reflecting his ability to convert starts into substantial contributions.

His broader record against New Zealand across all ODIs spans 37 matches, in which he has scored 1,971 runs at an average of 57.97. That record includes 7 centuries and 11 fifties, making New Zealand one of the opponents against whom Kohli has been most prolific in the format.

The 2014 Wellington ODI, where he made 82 in a losing chase of 304, remains his only appearance at Hnry Stadium and stands as a specific reference point as he returns to the ground more than 12 years later.

Where does Wellington fit in Kohli’s overall ODI career?

Kohli’s ODI career has produced more than 15,000 runs and 55 centuries in total, placing him among the highest run-scorers in the history of the format. His record against New Zealand, both in terms of average and century count, is among the stronger bilateral records in that overall tally.

The 2nd ODI at Wellington Regional Stadium on November 7 will be only his second appearance at the Wellington ground in ODI cricket. His first visit in January 2014 yielded 82 runs but no victory, and India now arrive with a 1-0 series lead and the momentum of a DLS-method win at Eden Park behind them.

Should Kohli perform well in Wellington this time, it would mark a significant personal turnaround at a venue where he has so far experienced only defeat despite contributing meaningfully with both bat and ball in his single previous outing there.

Wellington Regional Stadium hosts the second ODI between India and New Zealand on November 7, 2026, and the venue carries uncomfortable memories for Rohit Sharma. Across two ODI appearances there, he has scored just 6 runs in total, averaging a mere 3.00 at the ground.

His first visit came on January 31, 2014, when Kyle Mills dismissed him for 4 off 13 balls. India were chasing 304 that day and managed only 87 runs in reply, with Virat Kohli’s 82 standing out as the lone bright spot in a heavy defeat.

The second appearance at the same ground arrived on February 3, 2019, during the fifth and final ODI of a five-match series. Rohit, who was captaining India that day, lasted just 16 balls before Matt Henry bowled him for 2. The early damage was severe: India slumped to 18 for 4 inside 10 overs. A recovery partnership between Ambati Rayudu, who scored 90, and Hardik Pandya, who contributed 45, helped India reach 252. New Zealand were then dismissed for 217, giving India a 35-run victory and sealing the series 4-1.

Rohit had also scored a six-ball duck in the rain-affected series opener at Eden Park, which India won to take a 1-0 lead in the current 2026 series.

What is Rohit Sharma’s overall ODI record against New Zealand?

Away from Wellington, Rohit’s numbers against New Zealand tell a considerably different story. In 14 ODI matches on New Zealand soil, he has accumulated 437 runs at an average of 36.41, including 4 fifties. He has, however, never converted any of those innings into a century in New Zealand.

Looking at his complete ODI record against New Zealand across all venues, Rohit has scored 1,134 runs from 32 innings at an average of 36.6, with 2 hundreds and 6 fifties to his name. The Wellington venue remains the one clear outlier in an otherwise solid body of work against this opposition.

What are the conditions like at Wellington Regional Stadium?

Wellington Regional Stadium is known for its shorter square boundaries alongside longer straight boundaries, a layout that can influence batting strategy and shot selection. The ground’s particular dimensions mean that scoring square of the wicket is generally easier, while driving straight demands more power and precision.

For Rohit, who has twice failed to reach double figures at this venue, the second ODI on November 7, 2026 presents a fresh opportunity to improve on a Wellington record that currently reads as his weakest against any single ground in New Zealand.

James Anderson could extend his playing career into the 2027 County Championship season after entering discussions with Surrey, having departed Lancashire following 25 years with the club. Conversations between Anderson’s representatives and Surrey are ongoing, though nothing has been formally signed as of November 6, 2026.

Last week, Anderson was informed by Lancashire’s new director of cricket, Paul Farbrace, that a fresh deal would not be offered to him, effectively ending his association with Old Trafford. Despite the disappointment, Anderson acknowledged a sense of anticipation about what lies ahead. Speaking on the Tailenders podcast, he said:

“I am starting to get excited about the future, whether it is something different or playing cricket again. It is exciting. I am always going to support Lancashire. I feel like I have a special connection with the club and will always support them,” Anderson said on the Tailenders Podcast.

Anderson, who will turn 45 in July 2027, first appeared for Lancashire as a 17-year-old against Suffolk in List A cricket in 2000. He went on to accumulate 443 first-class wickets for Lancashire, along with a further 50 wickets in T20S and 83 in List A cricket. Across his England career, he amassed 911 international wickets, the most by any pace bowler from England. Last season, despite Lancashire finishing second-bottom in Division Two of the County Championship with Anderson serving as captain, he personally claimed 50 Championship wickets at an average of 17.

As reported by the BBC, although no contract has been signed, the interest from Surrey is genuine, and a number of other clubs from both divisions of the County Championship also made contact with Anderson’s camp in the days after his Lancashire departure became public.

Why did Anderson leave Lancashire?

Lancashire endured a difficult campaign last season, eventually finishing second-bottom in Division Two of the County Championship. Anderson captained the side through that struggle, yet his own bowling figures remained impressive, with 50 wickets at an average of 17 in the Championship. Still, the club’s new leadership decided not to renew his contract, with Farbrace delivering the news directly to Anderson.

The decision brought to a close a professional relationship that had begun when Anderson first played for the Lancashire Cricket Board against Suffolk as a 17-year-old in 2000, and which grew into a 25-year association with the county he supported as a child. Although the exit was difficult, Anderson has spoken openly about looking forward to whatever comes next.

What would a move to Surrey offer Anderson?

Surrey present a compelling option for Anderson for several reasons. The club holds the financial means to accommodate his addition, and their squad already features nine players on England central contracts, including seamers Gus Atkinson, Matthew Fisher and Henry Crocombe. Crocombe joined from Sussex, while Fisher received his first England central contract alongside that group. With those three as frontline seamers, Anderson could operate in a managed workload role rather than shouldering the burden of a full county schedule.

Surrey compete in Division One of the County Championship, which means Anderson would not face Lancashire, who are in Division Two, during the regular season. That arrangement would allow him to continue playing without the awkwardness of lining up against his boyhood club. A move to The Oval would also potentially spare him the need to relocate from his home in Cheshire, depending on scheduling. Surrey’s standing, resources and seam-bowling depth make them a front-runner in those discussions. For Anderson, who made his England debut in 2002 with Alec Stewart, then Surrey’s director of cricket, involved in the setup, the connection to Surrey has a certain historical thread running through it.