# Rohit Sharma Still Searches for First ODI Century in New Zealand Following Opening Duck > After falling for a duck in the opening match, Rohit Sharma aims to overcome his historical century drought on New Zealand pitches. **Type:** article · **Category:** Cricket · **Published:** 2026-11-05 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/new-zealand-men-aba-taka-nahin-aya-rohit-sharma-ke-balle-se-vanade-shataka-kivi-pichon-para-aisa-raha-hai-rikorda-56920 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Rohit Sharma, India vs New Zealand, ODI Cricket, ODI Series, Cricket Records Indian opener Rohit Sharma endured an underwhelming outing in the opening match of the ongoing bilateral one-day international series against New Zealand. Facing the final delivery of the innings' opening over, the senior batter departed without troubling the scorers. Despite batting out six deliveries, he failed to get off the mark. While the prolific run-getter boasts an enviable international record across the globe, the bouncy pitches in New Zealand have historically posed a unique test, leaving him without a single ODI century on Kiwi soil to date. ## A Final Opportunity to End the Triple-Figure Wait in New Zealand Given the current juncture of his career, this tour could well represent Rohit Sharma's final ODI assignment on New Zealand soil. Although discussions remain open regarding his ongoing white-ball journey leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, the likelihood of him returning to New Zealand for another bilateral 50-over campaign remains notably low. Consequently, the remainder of this five-match engagement provides a closing window to register an ODI hundred on these grounds. While Rohit Sharma has previously tallied two one-day centuries against New Zealand, neither of those triple-figure scores was compiled at a venue inside the country. ## Evaluating Overall Record Against the Kiwis Versus Playing Away When assessing his overall record against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma's career numbers reflect considerable authority. Across 35 one-day international appearances and 33 innings against the Black Caps, he has aggregated 1134 runs. His record features two centuries alongside six fifties, backed by a solid average and strike rate. However, isolating his performance strictly to matches contested within New Zealand reveals a striking contrast. Across 15 matches and 14 innings on New Zealand pitches, Rohit Sharma has accumulated 437 runs in the 50-over format. While he has managed to register four half-centuries in these conditions, his century tally remains stuck at zero. Adding to that, his dismissal on Wednesday marked the very first occasion he was removed for a duck in an ODI encounter against New Zealand. ## Focus Shifts to the Second Clash on Saturday The spotlight now turns to the second encounter of the five-match series, scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 7. Following the early setback in the tour opener, expectations will be high for the experienced campaigner to anchor the top order. With four fixtures remaining on the schedule, producing two or three substantial innings will be vital for India's momentum. Amid surrounding conversations regarding his roadmap toward the upcoming ODI World Cup next year, delivering impactful performances throughout this overseas series could provide crucial reassurance. ## What this means for you The outcomes and individual forms displayed during this bilateral series will directly influence upcoming team compositions. - **For Cricket Followers:** The next fixture is scheduled for Saturday, November 7. Supporters can anticipate a determined effort from the top order over the weekend. - **For Team Selection Dynamics:** Consistent batting runs remain vital as long-term preparations for upcoming ICC tournaments take shape. Delivering results across the four remaining matches will anchor team stability. - **Series Schedule Awareness:** With four matches remaining in the five-game contest, the series remains wide open. Viewers should track match dates to follow India's attempts to counter local conditions. - **Individual Milestone Chase:** Rohit Sharma retains opportunities to break his century drought on New Zealand pitches. Converting a start into triple figures would eliminate a notable statistical gap in his away record. ## Why this happened Several technical factors and distinctive playing conditions contribute to Rohit Sharma's early dismissal and his ongoing century drought in New Zealand. - **New Ball Conditions:** Opening overs on Kiwi surfaces frequently offer sharp lateral movement and seam. Confronting disciplined bowling right away led to his dismissal on the sixth delivery without scoring. - **Pitch Behavior in New Zealand:** Ground characteristics in the country typically reward seam bowlers with seam bounce and air drift. Although Rohit has recorded four half-centuries in 14 innings there, converting starts into triple figures has proven difficult under these conditions. - **Tour Schedules and Timelines:** Bilateral overseas assignments to New Zealand occur infrequently across an international calendar. Due to advancing career timelines, this five-game series is widely viewed as his final realistic opportunity to play 50-over games there. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. What was Rohit Sharma's score in the first ODI against New Zealand? Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a six-ball duck without scoring a single run in the first over of the innings. ### 2. What is Rohit Sharma's batting record specifically in New Zealand in ODIs? In New Zealand, he has scored 437 runs across 14 innings in 15 matches, recording four half-centuries and zero centuries. ### 3. How many total ODI centuries has Rohit Sharma scored against New Zealand? He has scored two ODI centuries against New Zealand in his career, though both were made at venues outside of New Zealand. ### 4. When is the second ODI match between India and New Zealand scheduled? The second one-day international of the five-match series will be played on Saturday, November 7. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._