Overview
- Mohammad Kaif, speaking on his YouTube channel, argued that Virat Kohli’s habit of turning starts into match-winning knocks sets him apart from Rohit Sharma in the 50-over format.
- Kaif highlighted Kohli’s self-critique after his Vadodara dismissal as evidence of the batter’s relentless standards and focus.
- Kohli scored 93 off 91 balls to win Player of the Match in India’s four-wicket chase of 301 in the first ODI, giving India a 1–0 lead over New Zealand.
- He has logged five consecutive fifty-plus ODI scores since Sydney, and another in Rajkot would make him the first Indian to reach six in a row, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane.
- Statistically, India Today noted Kohli’s ODI conversion rate at 40.76% (53 centuries from 130 fifty-plus scores) compared with Rohit’s 35.10% (33 from 94).