Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui hosts the fourth ODI of the ongoing five-match series between India and New Zealand on November 13, 2026, a day-night fixture that India can use to clinch the series after building a 2-0 lead. The third ODI was abandoned without a ball bowled, leaving the series at that margin heading into the Bay Oval contest.

Virat Kohli has appeared at this venue three times in ODIs, all against New Zealand, and has accumulated 112 runs across those innings off 131 balls at a strike rate of 85.49. His average at the ground stands at 37.33, with one half-century to his name from three visits. His highest score at Bay Oval is 60, which also remains his only fifty at the venue.

What are Kohli’s individual scores at Bay Oval?

Kohli’s two innings at Bay Oval during the January 2019 series produced scores of 43 and 60. India won both those matches, completing a 3-0 series sweep on that tour. The 43 came in the second ODI and the 60 in the third, with the latter representing his best effort at the ground.

His third appearance at Bay Oval came in February 2020, when he managed only 9 runs before being dismissed, caught by Kyle Jamieson off Hamish Bennett, having hit one six during that brief stay. That knock was part of a difficult New Zealand tour for Kohli, during which he finished with 75 runs across three ODIs at an average of 25. The match itself saw New Zealand successfully chase 297 to complete a series win.

Across the current 2026 series against New Zealand, Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls in the first ODI in Auckland, sharing a 113-run partnership with Shubman Gill. He followed that with 7 in the second ODI in Wellington, though India still won that game by four runs under the DLS method. His combined tally from the first two innings of the current series stands at 81 runs at a strike rate of 139.66.

What is Kohli’s overall ODI record against New Zealand?

Against New Zealand in ODIs, Kohli is the leading run-scorer in cricket, having accumulated 1,978 runs at an average of 56.51. Those figures underline a sustained record of performance against this opponent across multiple series and venues over many years.

Bay Oval represents just one chapter of that broader record. His scores of 43, 60 and 9 at the ground account for 112 of those 1,978 runs, with the venue having produced mixed returns compared to his overall numbers against New Zealand. The fourth ODI on November 13 gives Kohli another opportunity to add to his tally at a ground where his highest score remains 60.

A two-day simulation exercise at the BCCI Centre of Excellence is currently under way for Rishabh Pant, with November 12 set as the date on which medical staff will decide whether the 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is cleared to travel to New Zealand.

The simulation, which began on November 10, is designed to replicate the physical demands of a Test match and will determine whether the side strain Pant sustained during the Irani Cup has healed adequately. That injury occurred in Srinagar during the fixture involving Rest of India and Jammu and Kashmir, and it set off a prolonged rehabilitation stint at the Centre of Excellence. Because clearance was withheld at an earlier stage, he was unable to take part in any of the three India A matches that served as warm-up games before the two-Test series.

Sources confirmed to Cricbuzz that a positive outcome would allow him to fly out the same day, giving him sufficient time to settle in Wellington ahead of the first Test at Basin Reserve. The second Test of the series is scheduled to begin in Christchurch on November 27.

His absence extended to the international stage as well. Pant was withdrawn from the India squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo and continued his recovery at the Centre of Excellence rather than rejoining the touring group. According to sources, his batting and wicketkeeping work in the nets at the Centre has been productive, and he has appeared comfortable throughout those sessions in the lead-up to the simulation assessment.

What does the November 12 fitness check involve?

The two-day process at the BCCI Centre of Excellence replicates the sustained physical load a wicketkeeper-batter faces across a Test match, covering both batting workloads and the demands of keeping behind the stumps for extended periods. Medical staff will use the results of the simulation, which concludes on November 12, to make a final call on whether Pant can travel without risk of aggravating the side strain. If he receives the green light, departure is expected on November 12 itself, placing him in Wellington well before the first Test at Basin Reserve on November 17.

The cautious approach the BCCI medical team has taken throughout this rehabilitation reflects the seriousness with which they have managed the injury. Rather than returning Pant to competitive cricket prematurely, the Centre of Excellence has served as his base from the point of the Irani Cup setback right through to the current simulation stage.

Where does Pant stand in India’s Test setup for this series?

Across 52 Tests for India, Pant has scored 8 centuries and 21 fifties at an average above 43, figures that place him among the more productive wicketkeeper-batters the country has produced in the longest format. His availability for the New Zealand assignment carries clear significance for India’s batting depth behind the stumps, particularly given the extended period he has spent away from international cricket.

His most recent appearance at Test level came before the Colombo match, from which he was withdrawn mid-rehabilitation. A successful clearance on November 12 would mark his return to the Test arena after that absence, with Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 17 and Christchurch from November 27 representing the two opportunities he is targeting in this series.

Liam Livingstone has moved to Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2027 following a trade from Sunrisers Hyderabad. The English batter featured in just two matches for SRH during the 2026 season, accumulating 15 runs in a campaign that saw him struggle to find regular opportunities. His transfer to CSK marks another chapter in a career that has already taken him through four IPL franchises.

South African batting legend AB de Villiers has offered his perspective on Livingstone’s situation at his former team and the challenges ahead at his new franchise. De Villiers acknowledged that Livingstone’s time at SRH was marked by limited game time, a factor he believes may have hindered the batter’s performance.

“Livingstone is playing good cricket. He’s got a phenomenal golf swing. Always a big asset. Everyone was happy with the trade, but I still feel it is a big loss for SRH. Maybe he was underused throughout the last IPL. Never really got going at RCB as well. Going to CSK, new territory. He must be careful not to jump around too much,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.

Why does Livingstone need to adapt quickly at CSK?

De Villiers emphasised the importance of clarity in role and preparation for Livingstone at CSK. The batter’s aggressive approach will need to be matched with a clear understanding of what the franchise expects from him in the middle order.

“Livingstone is quite an aggressive player, so it depends on what kind of role he is given at CSK. Any wicket can suit any batter if your role is clear and you prepare accordingly; use your experience; anyone can adapt. The Chepauk is not always spin-friendly. I have played many games there where the seamers were tricky to face. The challenge for Livingstone will be not to have predetermined ideas about the stadium and feel like spin will get all over him. Just have a clear mind and play what you see,” he added.

Livingstone’s IPL career spans 51 matches across four franchises, during which he has accumulated 1066 runs at an average of 25.38 and a strike rate of 155.16. He has registered seven half-centuries in the competition, demonstrating his ability to build innings when given the opportunity. His journey through Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals has seen varying levels of success and game time.

What does RCB need ahead of IPL 2027?

De Villiers also shared his thoughts on RCB’s squad planning for the upcoming season. Following back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026, the franchise faces the challenge of maintaining their winning momentum while addressing any potential gaps in their squad, which de Villiers believed would be a backup for Josh Hazlewood and a backup wrist-spinner.

“After winning back-to-back titles, it is a tough shout. There is always room for improvement. RCB’s target should be Brevis. I hope they have him if he is available. But there is not much wrong with the balance at the moment. I would only think of a backup seamer if Hazlewood gets injured. Maybe a backup wrist-spinner. If anything, look for another power-hitter if someone loses form in those middle overs,” de Villiers explained.