Auckland, November 4 (Sports Desk)
India made a winning start to their five-match ODI series against New Zealand, registering a five-wicket victory under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-affected opening encounter at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday.
After winning the toss, Indian captain Shubman Gill elected to field first. India’s bowlers delivered an impressive performance, restricting New Zealand to 185 runs in 40.2 overs.
In reply, India were set a revised target of 143 runs in 32 overs following rain interruptions. The visitors successfully chased down the target, scoring 143/5 in just 22.4 overs to secure a convincing victory and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Virat Kohli was the star with the bat, scoring an impressive 74 runs off 51 deliveries, including 13 boundaries and one six. Captain Shubman Gill contributed 37 runs off 56 balls, while Shreyas Iyer added 15 runs.
Fast-bowling all-rounder Anshul Kamboj was named Player of the Match after taking two important wickets for just 22 runs in his 10 overs.
New Zealand Innings: 185 All Out in 40.2 Overs
New Zealand struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack and lost wickets at regular intervals.
Tim Seifert was the leading scorer for the hosts with 38 runs off 43 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Blair Tickner provided a late boost with an aggressive 34 off just 23 deliveries, hitting four sixes and one four.
Glenn Phillips contributed 30 runs from 51 balls, while Daryl Mitchell scored 28 off 41 deliveries. Jacob Duffy remained unbeaten on 15.
The rest of the batting lineup failed to make significant contributions as New Zealand were bowled out for 185.
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New Zealand Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Will Young | 9 | 11 |
| Tim Seifert | 38 | 43 |
| Henry Nicholls | 9 | 11 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 28 | 41 |
| Tom Latham | 3 | 11 |
| Glenn Phillips | 30 | 51 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 16 |
| Nathan Smith | 1 | 9 |
| Kyle Jamieson | 1 | 6 |
| Jacob Duffy* | 15 | 21 |
| Blair Tickner | 34 | 23 |
| Extras | 13 | |
| Total | 185 all out | 40.2 overs |
India’s Bowling Performance
Arshdeep Singh led India’s bowling attack with four wickets, while Gurnoor Brar claimed three important breakthroughs. Anshul Kamboj picked up two wickets, and the remaining bowler, Auqib Nabi, went wicketless.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 10 | 70 | 4 |
| Auqib Nabi | 6 | 33 | 0 |
| Anshul Kamboj | 10 | 22 | 2 |
| Gurnoor Brar | 9.2 | 44 | 3 |
| Axar Patel | 5 | 12 | 0 |
Anshul Kamboj was particularly economical, conceding just 22 runs in 10 overs, including two maiden overs.
India Innings: 143/5 in 22.4 Overs
Chasing the revised target of 143 runs, India suffered an early setback when Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck by Kyle Jamieson in the first over.
However, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli steadied the innings with an outstanding 113-run partnership for the second wicket. Their partnership put India firmly in control of the chase.
Kohli played an aggressive innings, scoring 74 off 51 deliveries. His knock included 13 fours and one six. He reached his 80th ODI half-century and once again demonstrated his experience in run chases.
Gill provided excellent support, scoring 37 runs from 56 balls with five boundaries.
After Gill’s dismissal at 114, India lost a few quick wickets. Shreyas Iyer scored 15 off 13 balls, while Axar Patel was dismissed without scoring.
Jacob Duffy took three wickets in a quick spell, dismissing Kohli, Iyer and Axar to briefly give New Zealand hope.
However, KL Rahul and Naman Dhir ensured there were no further complications. Rahul remained unbeaten on 3, while Naman Dhir scored an unbeaten 5, including the boundary that sealed India’s victory in the 23rd over.
India Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 0 | 6 |
| Shubman Gill | 37 | 56 |
| Virat Kohli | 74 | 51 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 15 | 13 |
| Axar Patel | 0 | 2 |
| KL Rahul* | 3 | 5 |
| Naman Dhir* | 5 | 3 |
| Extras | 9 | |
| Total | 143/5 | 22.4 overs |
New Zealand Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Jamieson | 7 | 34 | 1 |
| Jacob Duffy | 7 | 49 | 3 |
| Blair Tickner | 4 | 38 | 0 |
| Nathan Smith | 4.4 | 21 | 1 |
Jacob Duffy was New Zealand’s most successful bowler with three wickets, but his efforts were not enough to prevent India’s victory.
Anshul Kamboj Wins Player of the Match
Indian fast-bowling all-rounder Anshul Kamboj was adjudged Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance.
He finished with figures of 2 wickets for 22 runs in 10 overs, maintaining an economy rate of just 2.20.
His wickets included New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith. Virat Kohli also took an excellent diving catch to help Kamboj dismiss Nathan Smith.
Virat Kohli’s Special Knock
Virat Kohli once again demonstrated why he remains one of the finest ODI batters in the world.
His 74-run innings off 51 balls was the backbone of India’s successful chase. He also completed his 80th half-century in ODI cricket, shortly before his 38th birthday.
Apart from his batting contribution, Kohli produced a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Nathan Smith during New Zealand’s innings.
Match Summary
| Match Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Series | India in New Zealand, 5 ODI Series 2026 |
| Match | 1st ODI |
| Venue | Eden Park, Auckland |
| Date | November 4, 2026 |
| Toss | India elected to field |
| New Zealand | 185 all out (40.2 overs) |
| India | 143/5 (22.4 overs) |
| Revised Target | 143 in 32 overs |
| Result | India won by 5 wickets (DLS method) |
| Player of the Match | Anshul Kamboj |
| Series Status | India lead 1-0 |
India Take 1-0 Lead in Five-Match Series
With this victory, India have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. The second ODI is scheduled to be played in Wellington on November 7.
India will look to continue their winning momentum, while New Zealand will aim to bounce back in the next encounter
