India Beats New Zealand by Five Wickets in Rain-Hit First ODI in Auckland
Virat Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls and India's seamers restricted the hosts to 185 as the visitors chased a revised target of 143 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Auckland2 min read
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India defeated New Zealand by five wickets in the first one-day international of their series at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, 2026. The match was affected by rain, and India reached a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 143 in 22.4 overs after New Zealand had been bowled out for 185.
Virat Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls, his 80th ODI half-century, and shared a 113-run stand with captain Shubman Gill. The knock came the day before Kohli's 38th birthday. He hit 13 fours and one six before holing out to deep square leg off Jacob Duffy. Kohli also took a diving one-handed catch in the slips earlier in the match.
New Zealand lost the toss and were asked to bat. They managed 185 in 40.2 overs. Tim Seifert top-scored with 38. Arshdeep Singh took 4 for 70, Gurnoor Brar 3 for 44, and Anshul Kamboj 2 for 22. Kamboj was named player of the match. The Indian pace attack used short-pitched deliveries effectively on the bouncy surface, with strong fielding support.
India lost Rohit Sharma for a duck in the first over. Gill made 37 before departing. After two rain interruptions during the chase, the target was revised. India still finished with five wickets in hand and 56 balls remaining under the DLS calculation. Gill described the bowling effort as very good and the overall performance as solid.
The result gave India a 1-0 lead in the series. New Zealand had scored 259 for seven in a T20 match at the same ground only days earlier, highlighting the difference in conditions and execution between the formats. India's first-choice pacers were unavailable due to workload or injury management, so the younger unit carried the load.
Kohli's innings included several pulls and drives. He waved to the large Indian contingent in the crowd as he left the field. The match demonstrated his continued effectiveness in ODI cricket despite his age. India's fielding, including the catch by Kohli, contributed to the restriction of the hosts.
The series continues with further ODIs. Both teams will adjust to the early outcome and the impact of weather on the opening fixture. Full scorecards confirmed the margin and the contributions of the key performers.
