5 approaching milestones that could take place in India-New Zealand ODI series

Cricket is a game of numbers. Most of the records are made to be broken at some point in time in the future. Record-books of cricket keeps fluctuating with every match and series.

Nowadays, a lot of cricket is played all the time. Currently, Pakistan is playing an ODI series in South Africa; England's tour of the West Indies is about to commence; Sri Lanka will play two-match Test series in Australia; India will take on New Zealand for five-match ODI series followed by three T-20 internationals.

It is sure that, in the upcoming days, many records will be set and many will be broken. In this article, we talk about 5 approaching milestones that could take place in ODI series between India and New Zealand.

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#1 Most ODI runs for New Zealand against India

The record of most ODI runs for New Zealand against India is held by Nathan Astle, the former opener, who scored 1207 runs at 43.10 after playing 29 innings. He has scored these runs with the help of five centuries and as many half-centuries. Stephen Fleming, the former Blackcaps captain, is placed at number 2 with 1098 runs at 32.29 in 38 innings.

Ross Taylor stands at number 3 in this list with 940 runs at 40.86 in 25 innings he played so far. He needs 268 runs in the five-match series to own this record and looking at his recent form, this looks a walkover for Taylor.

In last 10 matches, he has got to bat 9 times and ended up scoring fifty-plus score 8 times with 3 centuries and 5 half-centuries. In the last 5 years, at home, he boasts of an average of 64.03 in 45 innings with 8 centuries and 11 half-centuries. Given his current form, it would be an uphill task for Indians to stop him from claiming the record.

#2 Most ODI hundreds for India against New Zealand

Virat Kohli averages 72.12 against New Zealand with 5 centuries and 6 half-centuries

It might be surprising for many that Virender Sehwag holds this record. The swashbuckling opener has scored 6 ODI hundreds against New Zealand in 23 innings. Even, his maiden ODI hundred had come against New Zealand in the year 2001.

Following him, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have scored 5 centuries each in 41 and 19 innings respectively. Now, Virat Kohli who is owning records with every game he plays would look to break this record as well.

Since the start of the year 2016, Virat Kohli has scored 3554 runs at a mind-boggling average of 91.12 with 16 centuries and 14 half-centuries. Indian captain's hankering for getting hundreds is peerless and there is no reason why Virat Kohli can not score two centuries in the upcoming ODI series against the host, New Zealand.

Last time, when Virat played ODI series in New Zealand in the year 2014, he had scored 291 runs at 58.20 with 1 century and 2 half-centuries in five matches. He would look to improve the great numbers furthermore.

#3 5000 ODI runs

An average of 30.83 in New Zealand, is the second lowest for Dhawan in any country followed by 26.07 in the West Indies

With 4990 ODI runs to his disposal, the stylish Indian opener, Shikhar Dhawan, is on the brink of a milestone. If all go well, Dhawan will become the 13th Indian batsman and 86th overall to score 5,000 runs in ODI cricket.

In his splendid career so far, Dhawan has scored 15 centuries and 25 half-centuries at an excellent average of 44.95. Off late, he has been in sour form with no fifty-plus score in last 9 outings.

Dhawan will look to shrug off the bad form and celebrate the milestone with some flamboyant innings like he often plays.

#4 100 ODI wickets

Shami's bowling strike rate of 28.5 is among the best

Indian pacer Mohammad Shami is set to become 20th Indian bowler to pick 100 wickets in ODI cricket. Currently, Shami has picked 99 wickets in 55 games at an average of 26.26. His strike rate has been a staggering 28.5 which is the highest among Indian bowlers who have picked as many or more wickets than him.

In recent times, Shami has been in-and-out from ODI team. With Jasprit Bumrah will continue to rest in upcoming New Zealand, Shami will continue to feature in the playing eleven.

Best of luck Shami for the approaching milestone!

#5 2000 runs and 150 wickets in ODI

Great athleticism from Jadeja on the field, increases his value

In ODI cricket, current statistics of Ravindra Jadeja read 1990 runs with the bat, and 171 wickets with the ball. Now, check the record books and see how many Indian all-rounders have the brace of 150 wickets and 2000 runs in ODI cricket. Results bring the names of two Indian legends: first is the expected in form of Kapil Dev; second is a little bit unexpected in form of Sachin Tendulkar.

Kapil Dev, the former Indian captain, has scored 3783 runs with the bat and picked 253 wickets with the ball. Sachin Tendulkar has picked 154 ODI wickets with how many runs he scored, is not a thing to discuss.

Now, Ravindra Jadeja is just short of 10 runs to join the eminent club. Given that, Jadeja has already taken more wickets than Sachin Tendulkar, he will be in the second position, in terms of 2000 runs and 150 wickets in ODI cricket for India. From here, he can chase the numbers of Kapil Dev to become India's best ODI all-rounder, statistically.