India beat New Zealand by five wickets in the first ODI at Eden Park on November 4, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. After bowling the hosts out for 185, India chased a rain-revised target of 143 in 32 overs with 9.2 overs to spare, led by Virat Kohli and Anshul Kamboj.
Match Summary: India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI
Shubman Gill chose to bowl first after a short rain delay. India took wickets at regular intervals and never let New Zealand build a partnership of note.
Rain interrupted the chase twice, and the target was cut to 143 in 32 overs. That meant a required rate of about 4.47 runs per over, which India handled comfortably.
| Metric | New Zealand | India |
|---|
| Innings total | 185 (all out) | Chased 143 in 32 overs |
| Result | India won by 5 wickets |
| Overs remaining | - | 9.2 |
| Series status | 0 | 1-0 lead |
Bowling Analysis: Control Over Volume
India's bowlers shared the wickets, and each contributed in a different way. Arshdeep Singh took the most wickets, while Anshul Kamboj conceded the fewest runs.
Anshul Kamboj: The Economy Anchor
Kamboj finished with 2 for 22 from his full quota of ten overs, an economy rate of 2.20. He was named Player of the Match for the spell.
He removed Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith late in the innings. Smith fell to a sharp catch by Kohli at second slip.
Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar
Arshdeep took 4 for 70, the best wicket return of the match. Gurnoor Brar added three wickets, so the three seamers and spinners took nine wickets between them.
| Bowler | Wickets | Runs Conceded | Note |
|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 70 | Most wickets |
| Gurnoor Brar | 3 | - | Middle-order breakthroughs |
| Anshul Kamboj | 2 | 22 | 10 overs, economy 2.20 |
Arshdeep's 70 runs show the cost of attacking. Kamboj's 22 runs from ten overs show how much pressure restriction can create.
Batting Analysis: Kohli Anchors the Chase
India lost Rohit Sharma for a duck in the first over, bowled by Kyle Jamieson. Kohli came in at number three and built the innings with Gill.
The pair added 113 runs despite two rain interruptions, and that stand effectively decided the chase.
Kohli's Innings in Numbers
Kohli scored 71 off 54 balls at a strike rate of 131.48. He hit 13 fours and a six, so 58 of his 71 runs (81.7%) came in boundaries.
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Runs | 71 |
| Balls faced | 54 |
| Strike rate | 131.48 |
| Fours / Sixes | 13 / 1 |
| Runs in boundaries | 58 (81.7%) |
| Partnership with Gill | 113 |
He took time to settle before accelerating, which matched the demands of a revised chase.
Records and Milestones
The match produced several statistical landmarks, mostly from Kohli's innings. They show how consistently he has scored against this opposition.
| Record | Detail |
|---|
| Kohli's 50-plus scores vs New Zealand (ODIs) | 18, joint-highest for any batter |
| Kohli's ODI runs vs New Zealand | 1,971, joint-most by a batter |
| Kohli's ODI runs at number three | 13,000 reached |
| Blair Tickner's sixes at number 11 | 4, joint-most by a number 11 in an ODI innings |
| Kamboj's 22 runs in ten overs | Joint-least by an Indian pacer in men's ODIs since 2016 |
Tickner's Late Resistance
Blair Tickner's four sixes at number 11 lifted New Zealand to 185. Without them the total would have been lower, but it was still well short of a competitive score.
What Comes Next
The second ODI is on Saturday, November 7, at Wellington Regional Stadium. India lead 1-0 with four matches left.
New Zealand will want to improve their top-order batting, since the lower order carried them to 185. India will look to repeat the discipline their bowlers showed at Eden Park.