Why Kohli leads Rohit in ODI cricket, according to Kaif

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has offered a clear explanation for Virat Kohli’s sustained dominance over Rohit Sharma in One-Day Internationals, highlighting Kohli’s mindset and consistency as key factors.

Kaif made the remarks ahead of the second ODI between India and New Zealand, following Kohli’s influential performance in the series opener.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said Kohli’s strength lies in converting starts into big, decisive innings. He explained that scores of 30 or 40 often turn into match-winning knocks for Kohli, which allows him to stay till the end and consistently deliver results for the team. According to Kaif, this ability is the main reason Kohli has remained ahead of Rohit in the ODI format.

Kaif also pointed to Kohli’s intensity and self-criticism, referring to a moment from the first ODI where Kohli was visibly disappointed after getting out despite playing a crucial innings. Kaif said this reaction reflected Kohli’s high standards and constant drive for improvement.

Kohli was named Player of the Match in the first ODI after scoring a fluent 93 off 91 balls, anchoring India’s successful chase of 301 in Vadodara. The knock extended his strong run of form, with the 37-year-old now registering five consecutive fifty-plus scores in ODIs, a streak that began against Australia in Sydney and continued against New Zealand.

Another half-century in the second ODI would see Kohli become the first Indian batter to score six successive fifty-plus scores in ODIs, moving ahead of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane.

India won the first ODI by four wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. With Kohli in strong form, the hosts are aiming to seal the series in the second ODI, while New Zealand will look to level the contest and force a decider.