Guwahati: India’s veteran ODI stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be in the spotlight when India face West Indies in the second ODI at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, with both batters carrying remarkable records at the Guwahati venue and in Assam.

India enter the contest with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after an eight-wicket victory in the opening ODI in Thiruvananthapuram. Kohli starred in that match with an unbeaten 139, while Shubman Gill scored 110 as India chased down West Indies’ 295/7 with 50 balls to spare. Kohli also crossed the 15,000-run mark in ODI cricket during the innings, becoming only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the milestone.

The second ODI gives both Rohit and Kohli another opportunity to add to their impressive numbers before the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Rohit Sharma’s impressive Guwahati record

Rohit has enjoyed considerable success at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. In his two ODI innings at the venue, he has scored 235 runs at an average of 235.00 and a strike rate of 127.71.

His highest score in Guwahati is an unbeaten 152 against West Indies in 2018. That innings remains one of the standout performances at the venue and is part of Rohit’s strong record against the Caribbean side.

The Indian opener also has another significant milestone within reach. Rohit currently has 11,927 ODI runs from 289 matches and needs 73 more runs to become only the third Indian batter to reach 12,000 runs in the format.

Only Tendulkar and former India captain Sourav Ganguly have previously crossed the 12,000-run mark in men’s ODI cricket for India.

Rohit has scored 34 ODI centuries and 62 fifties in his career, with his highest score of 264 remaining the highest individual score in men’s ODI cricket.

Kohli’s century streak in Assam

Kohli’s record in Assam is even more striking.

The former India captain has played three ODIs in the state and has scored a century in each of them. His three hundreds have come across two venues — the Nehru Stadium and Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

Kohli’s first ODI century in Assam came against New Zealand in 2010, when he scored 110. He returned to the state in 2018 and produced an unbeaten 140 against West Indies during India’s successful chase of 323.

His most recent ODI appearance in Guwahati came in January 2023, when he scored 113 from 87 balls against Sri Lanka.

Overall, Kohli has scored 358 runs in three ODIs in Assam at an average of 119.33 and a strike rate of 120.13, with three centuries and a highest score of 140.

That makes the Guwahati venue particularly significant for the 37-year-old batter as he prepares for another ODI appearance against West Indies.

Kohli arrives after a record-breaking hundred

Kohli’s form will be one of the major talking points heading into the second ODI.

In the opening match in Thiruvananthapuram, he scored 139 not out from 88 balls, including his 55th ODI century. His innings helped India complete a comfortable chase of 296 and gave him another major career milestone.

Kohli now has 15,080-plus ODI runs following the first match of the series and remains second only to Tendulkar on the all-time list.

He has also scored 523 runs in seven ODI innings this year, averaging 87.16 and striking at more than 116. His tally includes two centuries and three fifties.

His unbeaten 139 against West Indies also continued a strong recent run in the format.

Rohit looking to convert start into big score

Rohit, meanwhile, will be looking to make a bigger contribution after scoring 32 from 35 balls in the opening ODI.

The 39-year-old has accumulated 411 runs from 10 ODIs this year at an average of 41.10 and a strike rate of 98.56. He has also recorded a century and a fifty during the year.

His record in Guwahati could provide additional confidence. His unbeaten 152 against West Indies at the same venue in 2018 came during India’s successful chase and remains his highest score there.

With 73 runs separating him from the 12,000-run milestone, another substantial innings would also move Rohit into an exclusive group of Indian ODI batters.

India eye series win in Guwahati

India head into the second ODI with a chance to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The match is scheduled to begin at 2 pm IST at Barsapara Cricket Stadium. India won the opening game by eight wickets, with Kohli and Gill putting together a 151-run partnership after West Indies posted 295/7.

For West Indies, the challenge will be to contain an Indian batting line-up that produced a comfortable chase in the opening game.

The spotlight, however, will once again be on Rohit and Kohli. Rohit’s pursuit of 12,000 ODI runs and Kohli’s extraordinary record in Assam add individual milestones to an already important match in the series.

As India continue their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, the Guwahati encounter offers both experienced batters another opportunity to strengthen their numbers in the 50-over format.