Santner wants Kohli, Rohit out early in every ODI at Eden Park
Synopsis
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has laid bare his team's primary concern heading into the five-match ODI series: get Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma out early, every single game. With both veterans in form and crowds flocking to see them, New Zealand have devised separate bowling blueprints for seaming and flat surfaces — a sign of just how much the home side fears India's top order.
Key Takeaways
Mitchell Santner said New Zealand will target Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for early dismissals in each game of the five-match ODI series .
The series opens at Eden Park, Auckland on Wednesday, 5 November 2026 .
Santner acknowledged a shift in par scores in ODI cricket, noting 250–260 is no longer seen as a competitive total.
New Zealand's bowling group has prepared separate strategies for seaming and flat pitch conditions.
Both teams are using the series as ODI World Cup 2027 preparation.
Santner praised Kohli and Rohit for their continued excellence despite being in their late thirties .
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has set his sights on dismissing India's batting pillars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma early in each contest of the upcoming five-match ODI series, which gets underway at Eden Park, Auckland on Wednesday, 5 November 2026. The series carries added weight as both sides eye valuable preparation ahead of the ODI World Cup 2027.
Santner's Game Plan for India's Top Order
'Yeah, I guess we would try to stop them pretty early in every game, ideally,' Santner said at the pre-match press conference. He acknowledged the scale of the challenge: 'Rohit and Kohli have done it for a long time. Their role is to go pretty hard at the top and then set up a good score in the middle and then let their power kind of come in at the end.'
The New Zealand skipper is counting on surface assistance to bring his pace attack into play. 'If it does a little bit, it kind of brings the seamers back into the game a little bit. But when we've seen it's flat, it's how do we stop the likes of those guys?' he said. Santner also noted a shift in the benchmark score for one-day cricket, adding, 'We've gone away from kind of seeing that 250–260 score being par.'
Why Kohli and Rohit Remain the Focal Point
The pair's arrival in New Zealand generated immediate attention, with visuals of the two training side-by-side going viral on social media. Both are in strong recent form — Santner specifically cited their performances against the West Indies — and their presence has already boosted stadium interest. 'I expect they'll be the same with Rohit and Virat being here,' Santner said, referencing the strong crowd turnouts during the preceding T20 series.
Notably, both Kohli and Rohit are in their late thirties, yet Santner was candid in his respect: 'We know how good they are. I guess they're getting old, but they are still playing very well.' New Zealand's bowling group has reportedly conducted dedicated planning sessions to map out strategies for India's batting line-up across varying pitch conditions at home.
New Zealand's Bowling Blueprint
Santner revealed that his side has broken the challenge down by surface type. 'We've obviously sat down as a bowling group and discussed what their line-up looks like, how to operate in New Zealand, which I guess we know how to operate on these pitches. But when it's doing a bit, what does it look like, and when it's flat, what does that look like as well?' he explained. This dual-scenario preparation reflects a methodical approach that will be tested from the opening ball at Eden Park.
World Cup 2027 Stakes
The five-match series is one of the more consequential bilateral ODI contests in the current cycle, with both nations using it to fine-tune combinations and role clarity ahead of the 2027 World Cup. For New Zealand, containing India's experienced top order could prove to be the defining factor in deciding which side gains the upper hand in the series — and builds the sharper World Cup template.
Point of View
He is setting expectations for his own attack and, arguably, applying low-level psychological pressure. Yet history shows that India's top order tends to thrive when challenged — both veterans have repeatedly produced their best on tours where opponents loudly planned around them. New Zealand's real edge, if it exists, lies in their seam-friendly conditions at home, but Santner himself conceded that on flat surfaces the question remains open. The 2027 World Cup subtext also means both sides will be watching combination choices as closely as match results.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mitchell Santner say about stopping Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma?
Santner said his side would 'try to stop them pretty early in every game, ideally,' acknowledging that both batters are in excellent form. He highlighted their role in setting big totals and said New Zealand had prepared specific bowling plans for them across different pitch conditions.
When and where does the India vs New Zealand ODI series begin?
The five-match ODI series begins at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday, 5 November 2026. It is a key series for both teams in their preparations for the ODI World Cup 2027.
Why is the India vs New Zealand ODI series significant?
Both teams are using the series to sharpen their ODI combinations and strategies ahead of the 2027 World Cup. For New Zealand specifically, containing India's established top order at home would provide a major confidence boost heading into the global tournament.
How has New Zealand prepared to bowl at India's top order?
According to Santner, New Zealand's bowling group has held dedicated planning sessions mapping out how to operate against India's batters in two distinct scenarios — when the pitch offers seam movement and when it plays flat. He indicated that seam assistance would be particularly valuable in neutralising Kohli and Rohit.
What did Santner say about Kohli and Rohit's age and form?
Santner described both players as ageing but still performing at a very high level. 'They are still playing very well. We saw it against the West Indies,' he said, adding that their T20-series crowds had already signalled the interest their presence generates in New Zealand.
