Ajay Jadeja Gives Virat Kohli 11/10 After India Win

Former India all-rounder and cricket commentator Ajay Jadeja has shared his ratings for India’s players following their victory over New Zealand in the first ODI of the 2026 series. While most players received marks based on their contributions with the bat and ball, Virat Kohli received an unusual rating of 11 out of 10 for his outstanding energy, fielding and entertaining performance.

India bowled out New Zealand for 185 in Auckland on Wednesday, November 4. Kohli made a significant contribution in the field by taking an excellent catch at second slip to dismiss Nathan Smith. He then played a match-winning innings, scoring 74 runs from just 51 deliveries as India chased the revised target of 143 in 32 overs.

The visitors completed the chase with five wickets remaining and 56 balls to spare. Reviewing the performances on SonyLIV, Jadeja explained his ratings for the Indian players, offering praise to Kohli while also making some unconventional comments about Rohit Sharma’s dismissal and the contributions of the other batters.

Ajay Jadeja Gives Virat Kohli 11 Out of 10

Kohli was the standout performer in Jadeja’s assessment. The former India all-rounder awarded him 11 out of 10, going beyond the conventional maximum score to recognise his enthusiasm and influence throughout the match.

According to Jadeja, Kohli’s contribution was not limited to his 74-run innings. His energy in the field, impressive catch and ability to entertain made him deserving of an exceptional rating.

“I would give Virat Kohli 11 out of 10 for his energy and the way he entertained,” Jadeja said.

Kohli’s performance helped India complete a comfortable chase after the bowlers had restricted New Zealand to 185. His aggressive approach with the bat ensured that the visitors remained in control of the revised target.

Rohit Sharma Marked Absent After First-Ball Failure

Jadeja took a different approach when discussing Rohit Sharma, who was dismissed for a six-ball duck in the first ODI. Rather than giving the senior batter a low score for one unsuccessful appearance, he suggested that Rohit should be marked absent.

The former cricketer explained that Rohit’s experience and seniority deserved consideration, and one failure should not be enough to judge his overall contribution. His comment was a humorous way of avoiding a rating for the India captain after his early dismissal.

“I won’t give Shubman Gill much because he got out. I will give him six. Rohit Sharma has come from so far, and he is so senior. We won’t give him marks just because he failed once. So we would say he was absent,” Jadeja said.

Shubman Gill received six out of 10 after scoring 37 runs from 56 deliveries. Jadeja also placed Shreyas Iyer in the same category, awarding him six marks for his 15 runs from 13 balls.

Axar Patel received five out of 10. The all-rounder was dismissed for a two-ball duck and did not take a wicket during his bowling spell, conceding 12 runs in five overs.

KL Rahul Gets Eight, Naman Dhir Receives Six

Jadeja awarded KL Rahul eight out of 10 for his steady contribution during the successful chase. Rahul remained unbeaten on three runs from five deliveries, helping India finish the match without taking unnecessary risks.

Naman Dhir received six out of 10, with Jadeja taking his dropped catch into account. Dhir dropped Tim Seifert off Auqib Nabi’s bowling but remained unbeaten on five runs from three deliveries as India completed the victory.

“KL Rahul – steady as ever. I would give him eight because I cannot give 10. Naman Dhir dropped a catch. That will be a minus. Then he finished the game. He didn’t do much. He came to roam and gained experience. So I will give six to him because he dropped a catch,” Jadeja said.

Jadeja’s assessment reflected both the positive and negative moments from the two players. While Rahul received praise for his calm presence, Dhir’s dropped opportunity affected his overall rating despite remaining unbeaten and helping complete the chase.

Anshul Kamboj Receives Full Marks From Jadeja

India’s bowling performance also attracted considerable praise from Jadeja, particularly the efforts of Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh. Kamboj received a perfect 10 out of 10 after delivering an economical spell and taking two wickets.

The right-arm bowler finished with figures of 2/22 in 10 overs, including two maiden overs. His disciplined bowling helped restrict New Zealand and earned him full marks from the former India all-rounder.

Jadeja awarded nine out of 10 each to Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar. Arshdeep took four wickets for 70 runs in his 10 overs, while Brar claimed three wickets for 44 runs in 9.2 overs.

“Anshul Kamboj – 10. Auqib Nabi – one more than the number of overs he bowled. Gurnoor Brar, I think, has gone up. I will give him nine, and nine to Arshdeep Singh as well. I have cut one mark each because Arshdeep was greedy in his last over, and Gurnoor showed passion and bowled too short,” Jadeja observed.

Jadeja’s comments highlighted the reasons behind the ratings for the two pacers. Although both enjoyed successful outings, he believed Arshdeep could have managed his final over differently, while Brar’s bowling length was another area he felt could be improved.

Auqib Nabi Receives Seven Despite Going Wicketless

Auqib Nabi was awarded seven out of 10 despite failing to take a wicket against New Zealand. He conceded 33 runs in six overs, with Jadeja using an unusual method to calculate his rating.

The commentator joked that Nabi should receive one mark more than the number of overs he bowled. As a result, the six-over spell earned him seven marks.

Although Nabi did not appear among the successful wicket-takers, India’s other bowlers made important contributions. Arshdeep led the attack with four wickets, while Brar and Kamboj claimed three and two wickets respectively.

India’s Bowlers Set Up Victory in Auckland

India’s victory was built on a strong collective bowling performance that restricted New Zealand to 185. Arshdeep Singh led the attack with figures of 4/70 in 10 overs, providing important breakthroughs during the innings.

Gurnoor Brar supported him with 3/44 from 9.2 overs, while Kamboj delivered one of the most economical spells of the match, taking 2/22 in his 10 overs. Nabi completed the bowling effort with 0/33 from six overs.

After restricting the hosts, India successfully chased the revised target of 143 in 32 overs. Kohli’s 74 from 51 balls was central to the victory, while the contributions of the other batters helped the visitors complete the chase with five wickets in hand.

Ajay Jadeja’s Ratings Highlight India’s Individual Performances

Jadeja’s player ratings offered a mix of serious assessment and humour following India’s win in the opening ODI. Kohli received the highest possible recognition with an unconventional 11 out of 10, while Kamboj earned full marks for his economical bowling performance.

Rohit’s absence from the scorecard, Gill and Iyer’s six-mark ratings, Axar’s five and Rahul’s eight reflected Jadeja’s individual assessment of the batting performances. Meanwhile, Brar and Arshdeep received nine each, with Nabi earning seven and Naman Dhir receiving six.

India’s five-wicket victory gave the visitors a positive start to the ODI series. Kohli’s entertaining all-round contribution and the bowling unit’s performance were among the biggest talking points after the match, while Jadeja’s unusual ratings added another talking point for cricket fans.