India beat New Zealand by 5 wickets in rain-hit Auckland ODI

Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 59 off 43 balls and drew level with Australia’s Ricky Ponting as the leading ODI run-scorer against New Zealand, on 1,971 runs, as India won the first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland, by 5 wickets. India finished on 143/5 in 22.4 overs after rain reduced their innings to 32 overs, with a DLS target of 143.

The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the five-match New Zealand vs India ODI Series 2026, which runs from 4 November to 15 November. Kohli can take the New Zealand run record outright in the next game.

The chase

New Zealand, who batted first, were all out for 185 in 40.2 overs. Rain interrupted the match repeatedly, and the target was reset under DLS.

India’s Rohit Sharma made 0, and Shubman Gill remained not out on 36 off 51 balls alongside Kohli.

Outlook reports that Kohli became the first batter to pass 13,000 ODI runs while batting at No. 3, with Ponting second on that list on 12,662. The Tribune/ANI report adds that he went past Sachin Tendulkar for the most runs in ODI run chases.

The bowlers set it up

Anshul Kamboj was named Player of the Match for figures of 2 for 22 in 10 overs, two of them maidens. He credited his disciplined line and length and the wobble seam. Arshdeep Singh took 4 for 70 and Gurnoor Brar 3 for 44 in 9.2 overs.

Deccan Herald says it was the first time on the tour that India’s bowlers found conditions in their favour, with pace, bounce and movement, and that the largely new-look attack made use of them.

India captain Shubman Gill said Rohit Sharma’s run out of the dangerous Daryl Mitchell, who made 28, changed the momentum. He called Kamboj tailor-made for these conditions because of his movement, praised the extra bounce Brar found, and said Kohli’s batting made things much easier.

New Zealand’s view

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said the pitch bounced more and was faster than his side expected. He admitted the team did not adapt as quickly as it could have and said India bowled well.

What’s next

Four matches remain. The second ODI is in Wellington on Saturday, 7 November, at 7:30 AM IST.