India Vs New Zealand First ODI: The Indian cricket team kicked off 2026 on a winning note, defeating New Zealand by 4 wickets in the first ODI at Vadodara. Under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, India now leads the three-match series 1-0, thanks to stellar performances from Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul.
Kohli Misses Century by Seven Runs, But Creates History
Virat Kohli played a magnificent innings of 93 runs off 91 balls, falling just seven runs short of his 85th international century. Despite missing out on the landmark, Kohli etched his name in the record books by becoming the fastest batsman to score 28,000 international runs. He surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record in terms of innings taken to reach this milestone.
In another significant achievement, Kohli overtook Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar.
Rohit Sharma’s Six-Hitting Milestone
Indian captain Rohit Sharma added another feather to his cap by hitting his 650th six in international cricket, becoming the first batsman ever to reach this landmark. Although Rohit scored 26 runs off 29 balls before departing, his single six in the innings was enough to create history. Last year, Rohit had already broken Shahid Afridi’s record for most sixes in ODI cricket.
India’s Chase: A Collective Team Effort
Chasing a target of 301 runs, India reached 306 for 6 in 49 overs. The innings began cautiously with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting on a 39-run opening partnership. After Rohit’s dismissal, Gill and Kohli combined for a crucial 118-run stand for the second wicket.
Gill played a composed innings of 56 runs off 71 balls before falling to Kyle Jamieson. Kohli then partnered with Shreyas Iyer, adding 77 runs for the third wicket. Iyer narrowly missed his half-century, scoring 49 off 47 balls before Jamieson struck again.
The finishing touches were provided by KL Rahul, who remained unbeaten on 29 off 21 balls, sealing the victory with a six. Harshit Rana contributed a valuable 29 runs off 23 balls lower down the order. For New Zealand, Kyle Jamieson was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets.
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New Zealand’s Solid Start Falls Short
Earlier, New Zealand posted 300 for 8 in their 50 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell (84), Henry Nicholls (62), and Devon Conway (56). Conway and Nicholls gave the Kiwis an excellent start, putting together a 117-run opening partnership in just 22 overs.
Mitchell played a fighting knock of 84 off 71 balls, including five fours and three sixes, rescuing New Zealand after the middle order stumbled. His innings was crucial in taking the visitors past the 300-run mark.
For India, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna each claimed two wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav picked up one. Rana’s second spell proved particularly effective, breaking the opening partnership and triggering a collapse that saw New Zealand slip from 117 for 0 to 198 for 5.
Debutant Christian Clark remained unbeaten on 24 off 17 balls, helping New Zealand reach a competitive total.
India Vs New Zealand First ODI Highlights
- Virat Kohli became the fastest to 28,000 international runs
- Rohit Sharma hit his 650th international six, a world record
- Kohli is now the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket
- Conway and Nicholls’ 117-run opening stand was New Zealand’s highlight
- Kyle Jamieson’s 4-wicket haul went in vain
The second ODI of the series will be played in Rajkot on January 14, 2026. With momentum on their side, India will look to seal the series, while New Zealand aims to bounce back and level the contest.
This victory marks a perfect start to India’s cricketing calendar in 2026, with the team showing great depth in both batting and bowling departments under Shubman Gill’s leadership.
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