AUCKLAND, November 4, 2026 – A vintage masterclass from Virat Kohli, combined with a fiery four-wicket haul by Arshdeep Singh, propelled India to a commanding 5-wicket victory against New Zealand in a heavily rain-interrupted first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday. The win gives India an early 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
India’s captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field first, a decision richly rewarded by the pace battery. Indian bowlers dismantled the Kiwi batting lineup, restricting the hosts to just 185 all out in 40.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh was the chief tormentor, returning figures of 4 for 70, while debutant Anshul Kamboj delivered a highly impressive, economical spell of 2 for 22 in his 10 overs, earning him the Player of the Match award. Gurnoor Brar also chipped in with 3 for 44.
For New Zealand, only Tim Seifert (38), Glenn Phillips (30), and a late counterattacking 34 off 23 balls by number 11 Blair Tickner offered any significant resistance, helping the team recover from a dramatic batting collapse.
India’s chase, however, began disastrously. The menacing Kyle Jamieson dismissed Rohit Sharma for a six-ball duck in the very first over, marking the third time Jamieson has claimed Rohit’s wicket in six innings.
Following the early setback, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill stabilized the innings, weaving together a century stand for the second wicket. However, frequent rain disruptions repeatedly altered the course of the game. Due to the persistent downpours, the target was eventually revised via the DLS method to 143 runs in 31 overs.
Kohli was in sublime touch, turning up the aggression after the rain breaks. The batting maestro smashed a scintillating 74 off just 51 deliveries, peppered with 13 boundaries and a massive six, bringing up his 80th ODI half-century in the process. His innings effectively killed the chase before Jacob Duffy eventually claimed his wicket. Gill played the perfect anchor role, scoring 37 off 56 balls before falling to Nathan Smith.
The chase witnessed a dramatic late wobble as India lost four quick wickets—Gill, Kohli, Axar Patel (0), and Shreyas Iyer (15)—for just 22 runs, giving the Kiwis a brief glimmer of hope. However, the target was well within reach. KL Rahul (3*) and Naman Dhir (5*) remained unbeaten, with Dhir pulling a boundary to seal the match in 22.4 overs.
With a 1-0 series lead securely in the bag, India will now head to Wellington for the second ODI, scheduled to be played on Saturday, November 7.
Published by True Roots Media Network