India defeated New Zealand by four wickets. India got to 306/6 in 49 overs (Target – 301).
Author: Akshita Jain | EQmint | Sports News
On Sunday, while Virat Kohli missed out on a deserving 85th international hundred
KL Rahul calmly helped India to the rescue when it was most important in the first ODI of India VS New Zealand. Rahul started off slow with 14 off 17 balls, with an injured Washington Sundar for support. They went on a streak of three singles in the 49th over, and Rahul woke up, just short of his cautious start. He hit Kristian Clarke for back-to-back fours and then a six.
India Playing XI of ODI Series 2026:: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
New Zealand Playing XI of ODI Series 2026:: Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok
Did You Know?
Virat Kohli scored 28,000 international runs, the fastest ever scorer in the match against Sachin Tendulkar, in his 624th innings, 20 behind Tendulkar.
Earlier, Shubman Gill’s Team India won the toss and chose to bowl first against New Zealand in the opening ODI of the three-match series. Despite promising starts from Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana, Daryl Mitchell led the visitors to 300/8 with a superb counterattacking half-century. Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62) combined for 117 runs to help the Black Caps get off to a solid start. But Harshit Rana (2/65) promptly dismissed both set hitters, changing the tide.
Mohammed Siraj (2/40) maintained the pressure, taking off tailender Zak Foulkes (1) and the dangerous Will Young (12). Despite the fact that wickets were falling all around him, Kiwi regular Daryl Mitchell (84 runs) played a solid innings.
Shubman Gill had 56 points and Shreyas Iyer 49. Early in the day, despite probing opening spells from Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj, Daryl Mitchell scored 84 off 71 to get the visitors to 300 for 8. Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway also won fifties.
India vs New Zealand: KL Rahul wins for India!
What a finish from KL Rahul! Cool as a cucumber. He first fired a lap shot for four, then pierced the covers for another boundary, and then launched a BIGGIE to win for India. The wicketkeeper-batter did it professionally! The hosts take 4 wickets.
Virat Kohli named Player of the Match!
Virat Kohli has won Player of the Match for India VS New Zealand for his 91-ball 93. He knocked eight fours and one six. He couldn’t hit the triple-digits tonight, but he was a key contributor in India’s four-wicket win over New Zealand.
That’s it for the India v New Zealand first ODI. We hope you enjoyed our coverage of the game. Join us for the second match on Jan. 14. For now, goodbye!
Harshit Rana – The All-Rounder
The all-rounder scored 29 runs and took 2 wickets by breaking the partnership of D.Conway and H. Nocholls. Gautam Gambhir, head coach of India, likes all-rounders, and fast bowler Harshit Rana has stated that the management of the team has asked him to improve his batting skills.
Rana gave an all-rounder performance and helped India win by four wickets in the first ODI against New Zealand here on Sunday, taking two wickets at the top to thwart the Kiwis’ progress and contributing a vital 29 off 23 late in the chase. Rana batted before injured Washington Sundar, who had a side strain, and his fitness for the second ODI on Wednesday was in doubt.
“The team management wants to train me as an all-rounder, and it is my responsibility to continue working on it,” Rana told reporters here.
“I am working on it in the nets as well, and it was a matter of confidence that KL (Rahul) bhai helped me with when I went in to bat. I focused on it and made the runs,” he said.
With Hardik Pandya as the leading all-rounder unavailable for the ODI series, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington were both included in the playing eleven of India in the first ODI, while in other formats, the team combinations now typically have more than one all-rounder.
Both Pandya and Shivam Dube played four games in the five-match T20I series India won over South Africa last month, while the elevens for the two-Test series, which the hosts lost 0-2, had at least three all-rounders in each of the two matches; Jadeja, Washington, Axar Patel, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The use of multiple all-rounders in the Test team following the crushing loss was heavily criticised by former Indian pacer and KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad, who had argued that “the all-rounder obsession is absolute brain-fade”.
SHUBMAN GILL, India’s triumphant captain, smiles broadly in India vs New Zealand 1st ODI smiles broadly. He thinks it’s always satisfying to chip in, especially when you’re chasing. Adds that staying in the moment is essential for any athlete in any discipline, and just attempts to do so. Mentions that Kohli’s batting style is truly unique, and he makes it appear effortless.
He said that it’s difficult to get started on a surface like this, but it’s also difficult to reproduce his technique. Informs that keeping Arshdeep out was more of a rotation decision, and adds that he performed well against South Africa when Siraj was not present. Sundar has a side strain and will get scans after the game.
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