Cheteshwar Pujara Backs Virat Kohli Over Rohit Sharma to Score Century Against New Zealand

Key points

1. Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes Virat Kohli is more likely than Rohit Sharma to score a century in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.
2. Pujara said Kohli’s No. 3 batting position and anchor role could give him a better opportunity to build an innings to three figures.
3. Pujara described Rohit’s usual role as providing strong starts in the powerplay, while noting that New Zealand conditions could require a change in approach.
4. The assessment is Pujara’s opinion about the two batters’ roles and opportunities, not a prediction based on a confirmed statistical model.
5. Pujara also forecast a 2-2 result in the five-match ODI series, according to a separate report on his comments.

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes Virat Kohli has a better chance than Rohit Sharma of scoring a century in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Pujara’s assessment is based on the different roles the two senior batters perform in India’s top order, with Kohli’s position at No. 3 giving him what he sees as a greater opportunity to build an innings.

The view, reported by The Times of India and SportsTiger, focuses on batting position and the demands of the conditions rather than a claim that one player is ineligible to score a hundred. Pujara also acknowledged that New Zealand conditions could alter the way Rohit approaches his usual role as an opener.

Why Pujara gives Kohli the edge

Pujara’s reasoning centres on Kohli’s role as an anchor in the middle of the top order. Batting at No. 3, Kohli often comes in after an early wicket but can also enter once the openers have provided a platform. Pujara said that position can make it easier for a batter to manage the pace of an ODI innings and stay at the crease long enough to reach three figures.

In his assessment, Kohli’s responsibility is to build an innings and maintain stability through the middle overs. That role can create opportunities to convert a start into a century, particularly when the batter is able to judge the conditions and manage the scoring rate across different phases of the innings.

Pujara’s comments are a comparison of the two players’ likely opportunities, not a guarantee about the outcome of the series. A century depends on a range of factors, including the start a batter receives, the state of the match, the bowling attack and the conditions on the day.

Rohit’s powerplay role could change in New Zealand

Pujara described Rohit’s regular responsibility as giving India a strong start in the powerplay. As an opener, Rohit is expected to make use of fielding restrictions and put pressure on the opposition early in the innings. That approach can produce rapid scoring, but it also means his innings begins from the first ball and is shaped by the new-ball conditions.

Pujara suggested that New Zealand conditions might require Rohit to adjust that approach. The possibility of a different role or tempo could influence how he builds an innings, and Pujara did not rule out Rohit having an opportunity to score a century. His central point was that Kohli’s established position at No. 3 gives him a slightly better chance in the comparison.

The distinction underlines how the two experienced batters contribute in different ways. Rohit’s task is often to set the tone at the top, while Kohli’s position allows him to assess the innings and take responsibility for its progression after the opening phase.

Pujara’s wider view of the ODI series

Pujara also shared a prediction for the five-match ODI series, with a separate report stating that he backed a 2-2 result. The forecast reflects the possibility that India could use different combinations during the contest and that conditions in New Zealand may make the matches challenging.

The former India batter’s comments place the spotlight on two players who remain central to the team’s ODI batting plans. Their roles are different, but both can influence the shape of an innings: Rohit through his work in the powerplay and Kohli through his ability to bat for longer periods in the middle order.

For India, the series will provide another opportunity to assess how the experienced pair operate in overseas conditions. Pujara’s century call is one talking point ahead of the contest, but it remains an informed opinion rather than a certainty about which batter will reach the milestone.

Different roles, shared expectations

The comparison also illustrates why predictions about individual hundreds can depend on a player’s place in the batting order. An opener has the full innings available but must negotiate the new ball and fielding restrictions. A No. 3 batter may have a more defined role in stabilising the innings, especially if an early wicket falls.

Pujara’s assessment gives Kohli the edge because he sees the No. 3 role as better suited to constructing a century. At the same time, his comments recognise that Rohit’s approach could be adapted to the conditions in New Zealand. Neither player’s chances can be judged solely by position, and the match situation will ultimately shape their opportunities.

With the ODI series approaching, attention will naturally fall on whether either batter can turn a start into a hundred. Pujara has identified Kohli as the more likely candidate, but the contest between India and New Zealand will provide the answer on the field.