Rohit Sharma’s New Zealand slump raises concerns ahead of 2027 World Cup
Rohit Sharma endured a poor run in India’s New Zealand ODI series in November 2026, scoring 30 runs across four innings including two ducks and then making 7 in the fifth ODI. Those returns have intensified questions about his form as India build toward the 2027 ODI World Cup.
India travelled to New Zealand with a 2-1 series lead, but their batting frailties were exposed during the tour, most starkly in the fourth ODI when they were bowled out for 89 while chasing 334 in a 244-run defeat. Head coach Gautam Gambhir described the collapse as worrying and noted that the conditions in New Zealand were similar to those India could face at next year’s World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were expected to be tested by the tour; Kohli scored 74 in the opening match but managed only 7 and 5 in the next two completed games.
Beyond the raw numbers, selectors and fans will be concerned by Rohit’s inability to look settled through any meaningful innings on this tour. He struggled to find his timing and did not provide the stability usually required from an experienced opener, particularly against an attack that exploited local conditions. Those technical and tempo issues were highlighted repeatedly across his outings in New Zealand.
There is context to balance the criticism: Rohit remains India’s second-highest ODI run-scorer since the 2023 World Cup and his 2026 ODI season included three big scores — 138 against England and 101 and 92 against the West Indies. Those innings are cited as evidence of his ongoing capability in the format despite the recent slump. Nonetheless, the New Zealand results have been described in the report as a sharp reality check after those earlier successes.
The latest sequence of low scores has prompted fresh debate among supporters on social media, with questions being raised about his form and future in India’s ODI setup. The article notes that “Questions will be asked, and rightly so.”
India’s next assignment is a home ODI series against Sri Lanka, beginning with the first match in Visakhapatnam on December 13, followed by games on December 16 in Bengaluru and December 19 in Ahmedabad. The series has been framed in the piece as an opportunity for Rohit to respond to the New Zealand difficulties, though the report also states that runs on familiar home surfaces will not entirely erase the concerns generated on tour.
The piece concludes by reiterating that India needed Rohit and Kohli to demonstrate adaptability in conditions resembling those expected at the World Cup, and with the tournament approaching, both players will need to find answers soon.
