'I expect two hundreds from him' - Mohammad Kaif backs Virat Kohli to excel in NZ vs IND 2026 ODIs

Eden Park will host the opening fixture of India's five-match ODI series against New Zealand on November 4, with Virat Kohli expected to play a central role in the contest. The star batter arrives in New Zealand with strong recent form and a formidable record against the opposition across multiple formats and venues.

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has backed Kohli to deliver multiple centuries during the highly-anticipated encounter.

"I think in five ODIs, I expect two hundreds from him because his recent form -- in every third or fourth inning, a century is coming," Kaif said on his official YouTube channel.

Why does Kaif back Kohli for multiple centuries?

Kaif emphasised Kohli's particular strength against New Zealand, drawing on the batter's memorable performances in previous encounters. The former India player noted that Kohli elevates his game when facing top-quality bowling units and challenging overseas conditions.

"And against New Zealand, he loves to play; his record is fantastic. We remember the 2023 World Cup semi-final, his 50th ODI century... Against New Zealand, this player loves to play," Kaif said. "Especially when there are challenging conditions and good bowling teams like Australia and New Zealand, you cannot write off Virat Kohli. He lifts his game even further. So with five ODIs, I expect two hundreds from him as a given," Chopra added.

What is Kohli's record against New Zealand?

Kohli's statistics against New Zealand underline Kaif's confidence in the prediction. The batter has accumulated 1,897 runs from 36 ODI matches against the opposition at an average of 57.48, including seven centuries and 10 fifties across home and away venues. In the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in January 2026, Kohli scored 240 runs with a highest individual score of 124 in the third ODI at Indore on January 18.

Kohli's overall ODI record demonstrates his consistency at the highest level. He has scored 15,109 runs across 317 matches at an average of 58.78, alongside a world-record 55 centuries. His ability to convert starts into substantial innings has established him as one of the most reliable batters in the format across all conditions and opposition.