Who is Kristian Clarke? New Zealand bowler who dismissed Kohli, Rohit and Iyer in Rajkot ODI?

Published - 14 Jan 2026, 16:34 IST | Updated - 14 Jan 2026, 17:03 IST

New Zealand pacer Kristian Clarke grabbed headlines during the second ODI in Rajkot. Playing just his second ODI, the 24-year-old right-arm seamer produced a solid spell that saw him dismiss three of India’s biggest batting stars, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer, on a flat pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.

India were sent in to bat by New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell, with the surface expected to favour batters. However, Clarke’s bowling created pressure at important moments. Introduced in the ninth over, Clarke initially leaked a few boundaries but bounced back emphatically.

Clarke’s first breakthrough came in the 13th over when he dismissed Rohit. Bowling a cross-seam slower delivery, Clarke tempted the Indian opener into a big shot, resulting in a mistimed hit that was caught by Will Young at sweeper cover as Rohit departed for 24 off 38 balls.

After being reintroduced into the attack in the 20th over, Clarke picked two more in quick succession. Shreyas Iyer, struggling to rotate the strike, attempted to go over the top but chipped it straight to Bracewell at mid-off. Just two overs later, Clarke removed Virat Kohli. Bowling a back-of-a-length delivery outside off, Clarke cramped Kohli for room as the former India captain attempted to guide the ball fine. An inside edge crashed into the stumps, ending Kohli’s five-match fifty streak. Eventually, Clarke bowled eight overs in the game, picking three wickets and conceding 56 runs.

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Born on March 6, 2001, in Te Awamutu, Waikato, Kristian David Charles Clarke is a product of New Zealand’s Northern Districts system. He rose through the ranks after strong performances at the U19 level, earning selection for the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup, where he picked up seven wickets in four matches at an average of 14.

Clarke made his first-class debut for Northern Districts in March 2022. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023-24 Ford Trophy and has bagged 79 first-class wickets and over 50 List A scalps. Notably, with the bat, he has hit an unbeaten century from No. 7 in domestic cricket in 2025.

The youngster made his ODI debut in the first match of the series in Vadodara, where he conceded 73 runs for one wicket in 10 overs. Despite the expensive figures, he contributed an unbeaten 24 with the bat.