What is Virat Kohli's record at Indore in ODIs?

Batting stalwart Virat Kohli returned to the top of the ICC men’s ODI batting rankings following the opening game against New Zealand. After displacing Rohit Sharma to reclaim the No. 1 spot, India’s modern great is all set to continue his fine form. However, as the three-match ODI series heads into its third and final game at Indore, Kohli’s numbers at the Holkar Cricket Stadium are underwhelming.

Kohli replaced Rohit as the world’s top-ranked ODI batter after his match-winning 93 off 91 balls in the first ODI at Vadodara, which helped India chase down a 300-plus total against New Zealand. That knock completed a sensational run that also includes scores of 74*, 135, 102, and 65* in his previous ODIs. With 785 rating points, Kohli edged past Daryl Mitchell and Rohit to claim the top spot for the 11th time in his career.

Virat Kohli's record at Indore in ODIs

Yet, as India and New Zealand arrive in Indore with the series level at 1-1, Kohli’s record at the venue isn't up to his standards. The veteran's returns at Indore in ODIs have been poor. Across four innings at the venue, he has scored 99 runs at an average of 33.00 and a strike rate of 108.79, with a highest score of 36.

Kohli’s ODI knocks at Indore include scores of an unbeaten 23 against West Indies in 2011, 12 versus South Africa in 2015, 28 against Australia in 2017, and 36 against New Zealand in January 2023. None of those innings converted into a match-winning performance, and he currently ranks only 13th on the list of most runs scored at the venue in ODIs.

This is particularly surprising given Holkar Stadium’s being known as a batting-friendly venue with short boundaries and high-scoring potential. However, with the series on the line, the former skipper will look to keep his past performances at this ground behind his back and come in fresh, and will be hopeful of putting on an impactful knock.