Vadodara, January 11, 2026 — A magnificent knock of 93 runs by Virat Kohli powered India to a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match series on Sunday, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Chasing a target of 301 on a slow surface, India began cautiously as New Zealand’s pacers found early movement. Will Young’s replacement, Foulkes, beat Shubman Gill’s outside edge several times, while Kyle Jamieson generated extra bounce. Rohit Sharma, however, broke the shackles with positive intent before falling during the Powerplay, as India reached 48/1 after 10 overs.
The chase stabilized through a crucial 118-run partnership between Kohli and Gill. Kohli batted with composure and authority, rotating the strike effectively during a phase where boundaries were hard to come by. Gill supported him well, scoring a fluent 56 before falling to Adithya Ashok. Kohli looked set for a century but was dismissed on 93, triggering a brief collapse as Jamieson’s four-wicket spell reduced India from 234/2 to 242/5, suddenly bringing New Zealand back into the contest.
Earlier, New Zealand had posted 300 after being asked to bat first. Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls added a solid opening stand, both scoring fifties, before a middle-order collapse saw the visitors slide from 117/0 to 146/3. Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with a well-made 84, while debutant Kristian Clarke contributed a valuable 24 to push the total to a competitive score. For India, the pace trio of Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna claimed two wickets each.
With pressure mounting late in the chase, KL Rahul played a calm and mature innings, guiding India home alongside Harshit Rana. Rahul’s composed finishing ensured India crossed the line despite New Zealand’s late fightback.
Virat Kohli was named Player of the Match for his fluent 93 off 91 balls, marking his 45th such award in ODIs. India captain Shubman Gill praised Kohli’s form, calling it “really special,” while New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell felt his young side would learn valuable lessons from the defeat.
The second ODI will be played in Rajkot on January 14, with both teams staying in Gujarat as the series continues.