India Beats New Zealand by Five Wickets in Rain-Hit Auckland ODI

India defeated New Zealand by five wickets in the rain-affected first ODI of the series at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, 2026, taking a 1-0 lead.

New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs after losing the toss. Arshdeep Singh took 4 for 70 and Gurnoor Brar 3 for 44. Anshul Kamboj returned 2 for 22 from 10 overs and was named player of the match. Tim Seifert top-scored for the hosts with 38.

India were set a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 143 in 32 overs after rain interruptions. They reached 143 for 5 in 22.4 overs. Virat Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls, including 13 fours and one six, his 80th ODI half-century. Shubman Gill made 37. The pair added 113 for the second wicket.

Kohli was dismissed by Jacob Duffy, caught at deep square leg. Duffy finished with 3 for 49. India still finished with 56 balls remaining. Kohli also took a diving one-handed catch in the slips earlier in the match.

Captain Shubman Gill said the bowling performance was strong and the overall team effort good. The match was the opener of a multi-match ODI series. New Zealand had scored 259 for 7 in a T20 only five days earlier.

The result gives India the early advantage in the series. The next match follows the schedule already set by the boards. Kohli, a day short of his 38th birthday, remains the highest run-scorer in ODI chases after this innings.