KOLKATA, NOVEMBER 4, 2026: Virat Kohli’s brilliant knock of 74 off just 51 balls, combined with an outstanding performance from India’s young pace-bowling attack, guided India to a comfortable five-wicket victory over New Zealand in a rain-affected encounter. Chasing a revised target of 143 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, India successfully completed the chase in just 22.4 overs. With this emphatic victory, India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series in the opening encounter on Wednesday, 4 November, at Eden Park, Auckland.
Forced to bat first, New Zealand managed to post a modest total of 185 runs before being bowled out in 40.2 overs against India’s outstanding young pace-bowling attack, led by Arshdeep Singh, who delivered an impressive spell to claim four crucial wickets. He received excellent support from Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar, who chipped in with two and three wickets respectively, as India’s young pace brigade kept the New Zealand batting lineup under constant pressure.
Meanwhile, India’s innings was interrupted twice due to rain during the run chase. Following the first interruption, the DLS method revised India’s target to 167 runs in 40 overs. However, after the second interruption, the target was further revised to 143 runs in 32 overs. Spearheading the chase, Virat Kohli produced a brilliant knock of 74 runs, while a superb 113-run partnership between Kohli and Shubman Gill gave India firm control of the run chase. With the chase firmly under control, India eventually completed the run chase comfortably at 143/5 in just 22.4 overs, claiming a convincing five-wicket victory with 56 balls to spare.
The opening match of the five-match ODI series began with India winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Arshdeep Singh struck twice inside the powerplay, dismissing opener Will Young (9 off 11) and Henry Nicholls (9 off 11). To recover from the two early setbacks, Daryl Mitchell and Tim Seifert attempted to stabilise the innings by stitching together a 33-run partnership off 35 balls for the third wicket. Seifert offered some resistance with a valuable knock of 38 off 43 balls, including two sixes, before Gurnoor Brar brought his innings to an end. Brar then dismissed Tom Latham (3 off 11) with a brilliant sharp return catch, leaving New Zealand struggling at 84/4.
Daryl Mitchell (28 off 41) was run out by Rohit Sharma, after which Anshul Kamboj produced two quick breakthroughs, first dismissing Mitchell Santner (4 off 16) before removing Nathan Smith (1 off 9), with Virat Kohli completing a spectacular catch. Kamboj was outstanding throughout his spell, finishing with impressive figures of 2/22, including two maiden overs, and an excellent economy rate of 2.20. His disciplined and economical bowling performance deservedly earned him the Player of the Match award.
New Zealand suffered two further setbacks, as Kyle Jamieson (1 off 6) and Glenn Phillips (30 off 51) were both dismissed by Arshdeep Singh. However, Blair Tickner launched a spirited counterattacking effort with an impressive 34 off 23 balls, including one four and four sixes. Tickner stitched together a crucial 39-run partnership off 31 balls for the tenth wicket with Jacob Duffy, which helped New Zealand post a more respectable total. Eventually, with Gurnoor Brar claiming the final wicket, New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh completed his spell with outstanding figures of 4/70, while Gurnoor Brar claimed an impressive 3/44. Despite India’s commendable bowling performance, New Zealand were unable to build any meaningful momentum throughout their innings.
While chasing the modest target of 186, India suffered an early setback as Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a six-ball duck by Kyle Jamieson. However, Virat Kohli joined captain Shubman Gill at the crease, and the duo successfully steadied the innings after the early blow. The duo stitched together a stunning 113-run partnership off 104 balls for the second wicket.
Virat Kohli led the charge with his trademark composure and attacking stroke play, finding the boundaries at regular intervals and bringing up his 80th half-century in ODI cricket. He once again showcased his remarkable consistency and exceptional form with a commanding knock.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill provided excellent support with a composed 37 off 56 balls before Nathan Smith brought the partnership to an end by dismissing the Indian skipper, leaving India at 114/2 in 18.2 overs. Virat Kohli continued his commanding innings, scoring 74 off just 51 balls, including 13 boundaries and one maximum, before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. With this remarkable knock, Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record for the most runs in successful and unsuccessful ODI run chases. Kohli took his tally in ODI chases to 8,741 runs, going past Tendulkar’s previous record of 8,720. He has amassed these runs at an exceptional average of 66.21 and a strike rate of 95.03. Tendulkar, meanwhile, finished with 8,720 runs at an average of 42.33 and a strike rate of 88.44.
Kohli also scripted history by becoming the first batter in ODI cricket to reach the 13,000-run milestone while batting at the No. 3 position, taking his tally at this position to exactly 13,000 runs at an extraordinary average of 61.61. Before Kohli, only Sachin Tendulkar had crossed the 13,000-run mark at a particular batting position in ODI cricket. The Master Blaster accumulated 13,685 runs while batting at No. 2.
Adding another remarkable achievement to his illustrious ODI career, Virat Kohli equalled Ricky Ponting’s record for the most runs against New Zealand in the format. Kohli now has 1,971 ODI runs against New Zealand, drawing level with the former Australian captain, who amassed the same number during his illustrious career. With more matches remaining in the ongoing series, Kohli has a golden opportunity to surpass Ponting and become the outright record-holder. Former Indian great Sachin Tendulkar occupies third place on the list with 1,750 runs against New Zealand, followed by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara (1,568) and Sanath Jayasuriya (1,519).
Duffy provided two more crucial breakthroughs, dismissing Axar Patel for a duck before removing Shreyas Iyer (15 off 13) with some disciplined bowling, slightly denting India’s momentum in the chase. However, Namadhir eventually sealed the victory with a winning shot as India comfortably chased down the target, finishing at 143/5 in 22.4 overs with 56 balls to spare. With this outstanding performance, India secured a comfortable victory and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Duffy claimed three wickets, while Jamieson and Smith picked up one wicket each. Both teams will face each other again on Saturday, 7 November, for the second ODI of the five-match series in Wellington.
