In a high-octane start to the 2026 cricketing calendar, India secured a hard-fought four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Chasing a formidable target of 301, the Men in Blue relied on a masterclass from Virat Kohli and a composed finish by KL Rahul to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Key Match Stats
| Team | Score | Top Performer |
| New Zealand | 300/8 (50 overs) | Daryl Mitchell (84 off 71) |
| India | 306/6 (49 overs) | Virat Kohli (93 off 91) |
The Chase: Kohli’s Milestone and a Middle-Order Wobble
India’s pursuit began with typical aggression from Rohit Sharma (26), but the spotlight quickly shifted to Virat Kohli. During his fluent 93, Kohli etched his name deeper into history, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar. He also became the fastest player to reach the 28,000-run mark.
Kohli found an able partner in skipper Shubman Gill, who brushed off recent injury concerns to score a steady 56. The duo’s 118-run stand seemed to put India in cruise control. However, the game took a dramatic turn when Kyle Jamieson (4/41) struck. India slipped from a comfortable 234/2 to 242/5, losing Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shreyas Iyer (49) in quick succession.
The Calm Finish
With the pressure mounting and the asking rate climbing, KL Rahul stepped up as the finisher. Showing immense composure, Rahul (29* off 21) stabilized the ship alongside Harshit Rana, who contributed a vital 29-run cameo. Despite an injury to Washington Sundar at the other end, Rahul remained “cool as a cucumber,” finishing the game in the penultimate over with a flurry of boundaries and a towering six to seal the win with six balls to spare.
New Zealand’s Spirited Effort
Earlier in the day, New Zealand’s openers Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62) provided a perfect platform with a 117-run opening partnership. While India’s pacers—Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna—eventually broke through to take two wickets each, Daryl Mitchell continued his prolific form against India. His aggressive 84 helped the Black Caps reach the 300-run mark, a total that pushed the hosts to their absolute limits.
“I just wanted to get the team into a good position. The experience does matter in these chases.” — Virat Kohli, Player of the Match.
What’s Next? India will look to seal the series when the two teams meet for the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday, January 14.
