India started their five-match ODI series against New Zealand with a convincing five-wicket victory in the opening match at Eden Park, Auckland, on November 4, 2026. Virat Kohli led India's chase with an impressive 74 off 51 deliveries as the visitors reached their revised target of 143 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs after India won the toss and elected to field. Rain interruptions reduced India's chase to 32 overs, with the target revised to 143. India eventually reached 143/5 in 22.4 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.
Fast bowler Anshul Kamboj was named Player of the Match for his disciplined bowling performance of 2/22 in 10 overs. Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar also played important roles, taking four and three wickets respectively.
India Win the Toss and Elect to Bowl at Eden Park
India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to field first at Eden Park in Auckland. The decision gave India's bowling attack an opportunity to make use of the conditions and put New Zealand under pressure early in the innings.
India made an immediate impact with the ball, removing Will Young and Henry Nicholls during the early stages. The New Zealand batters found it difficult to establish long partnerships against India's disciplined bowling attack.
Tim Seifert, who came into the side as a replacement for the concussed Devon Conway, provided some stability with 38 runs from 43 deliveries. However, regular wickets prevented New Zealand from building a substantial total.
Arshdeep Singh Leads India's Bowling Attack
Left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh delivered an important performance, finishing with figures of 4/70 in 10 overs. He picked up four wickets, including key top-order and middle-order dismissals, to keep New Zealand under pressure.
Gurnoor Brar also impressed with the ball, claiming three wickets for 44 runs in 9.2 overs. His contribution helped India continue taking wickets and eventually dismiss the hosts for 185.
Anshul Kamboj was particularly economical. He bowled 10 overs, conceded only 22 runs and took two wickets. His figures of 2/22 included two maiden overs and played a significant role in restricting New Zealand's scoring.
Axar Patel supported the pace attack with a controlled spell of 5 overs for 12 runs. India's bowling performance was built around discipline, regular breakthroughs and the ability to prevent New Zealand from accelerating consistently.
Tim Seifert and Blair Tickner Provide Resistance
New Zealand struggled to build partnerships throughout their innings, but Tim Seifert and Blair Tickner made useful contributions.
Seifert scored 38 from 43 balls, including three fours and two sixes. His innings helped New Zealand maintain some stability after early wickets, although he could not convert his start into a bigger score.
Blair Tickner provided a late boost with an aggressive 34 from just 23 deliveries. His innings included four sixes and helped New Zealand move towards 185 after the lower order had come under pressure.
Daryl Mitchell contributed 28 from 41 balls, while Glenn Phillips scored 30 from 51 deliveries. However, neither batter could produce a long innings to take New Zealand towards a more competitive total.
New Zealand Bowled Out for 185
New Zealand were eventually dismissed for 185 in 40.2 overs. India's bowlers shared the wickets, with Arshdeep Singh taking four, Gurnoor Brar claiming three and Anshul Kamboj picking up two.
The hosts lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to establish the kind of partnerships required to post a challenging ODI total. Tickner's late hitting helped improve the score, but 185 left New Zealand with a difficult task when defending the total.
India's bowling unit had successfully controlled the first innings, giving the visitors an opportunity to take an early lead in the series.
Rain Interrupts India's Chase as DLS Target Is Revised
India's chase was affected by rain, resulting in a reduction of the second innings to 32 overs. Under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, India's revised target was set at 143 runs.
The interruption changed the structure of the chase, but India remained in a strong position. The reduced target meant the visitors needed to maintain a positive scoring rate while avoiding unnecessary risks.
New Zealand's bowlers managed to pick up wickets, but India had enough batting depth and experience to remain ahead of the required rate.
Virat Kohli Leads India's Successful Chase with 74
Virat Kohli produced the standout batting performance of the match, scoring 74 runs from 51 balls. His innings included a combination of controlled stroke play and attacking shots, ensuring India remained comfortably placed during the revised chase.
Kohli's experience was particularly valuable in a rain-affected match where the target and available overs had changed. He assessed the situation carefully, rotated the strike and punished loose deliveries whenever opportunities appeared.
His 74 was the highest individual score of the match and gave India the stability required to move towards victory. Kohli's innings also included several well-timed boundaries that kept the scoring rate under control.
Although he was dismissed before the end of the chase, his contribution had put India in a commanding position.
Shubman Gill and India's Batting Unit Support the Chase
India captain Shubman Gill contributed 37 runs from 56 deliveries. His innings provided support at the other end and helped India manage the revised target without allowing the required rate to become a major concern.
India did lose wickets during the chase, but the contributions from Kohli and Gill ensured that the team remained in control. New Zealand's bowlers attempted to create pressure through regular breakthroughs, but the target was not large enough to put India under sustained pressure.
Naman Dhir eventually hit the winning boundary, taking India to 143/5 in 22.4 overs and completing a five-wicket victory.
Anshul Kamboj Named Player of the Match
Anshul Kamboj was awarded Player of the Match for his excellent bowling performance. He finished with figures of 2/22 in 10 overs, including two maiden overs.
His economical spell was one of the key reasons New Zealand could not build a bigger total. While Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar took more wickets, Kamboj's control and ability to restrict the scoring rate made his contribution especially valuable.
The performance was an important contribution from the Indian bowling attack and helped the visitors start the ODI series with a win.
India Take a 1-0 Lead in the Five-Match ODI Series
India's victory in Auckland gives them a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand. After winning the preceding T20I series 3-2, India have carried their momentum into the 50-over format.
For New Zealand, the opening defeat highlights the need for stronger batting partnerships and a more substantial first-innings total. Their bowlers did manage to take five Indian wickets, but defending a revised target of 143 proved difficult.
India will look to build on the opening victory, while New Zealand will aim to respond in the second ODI and level the series.
India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Full Match Score Summary
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | New Zealand vs India, 1st ODI |
| Date | November 4, 2026 |
| Venue | Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Toss | India won and elected to field |
| New Zealand | 185 all out in 40.2 overs |
| India | 143/5 in 22.4 overs |
| Revised Target | 143 runs in 32 overs |
| Result | India won by 5 wickets (DLS method) |
| Player of the Match | Anshul Kamboj (2/22) |
| Series Status | India lead 1-0 |
Top Performers: New Zealand vs India 1st ODI
New Zealand Batting
- Tim Seifert – 38 runs from 43 balls
- Glenn Phillips – 30 runs from 51 balls
- Daryl Mitchell – 28 runs from 41 balls
- Blair Tickner – 34 runs from 23 balls
India Bowling
- Arshdeep Singh – 4/70 in 10 overs
- Gurnoor Brar – 3/44 in 9.2 overs
- Anshul Kamboj – 2/22 in 10 overs
- Axar Patel – 0/12 in 5 overs
India Batting
- Virat Kohli – 74 runs from 51 balls
- Shubman Gill – 37 runs from 56 balls
New Zealand Bowling
- Jacob Duffy – 3/49 in 7 overs
- Nathan Smith – 1/21 in 4.4 overs
What Does the Result Mean for the Rest of the Series?
India's opening victory gives them an early advantage in the five-match ODI series. Winning the first match is important in a long bilateral contest because it allows a team to build confidence and put pressure on its opponent.
India's bowling performance will be a major positive for the team. Restricting New Zealand to 185 demonstrated the effectiveness of the attack, particularly the contributions from Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Anshul Kamboj.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will need to improve their batting performance. Their middle order must find ways to build partnerships and avoid losing wickets at regular intervals. The hosts will also look for their bowling attack to create more pressure during the next match.
Conclusion
India made a strong start to their ODI tour of New Zealand with a five-wicket victory in the opening match at Eden Park. Their bowlers restricted the hosts to 185, while Virat Kohli's 74 helped guide the chase after rain revised the target to 143.
Anshul Kamboj's economical spell of 2/22 earned him the Player of the Match award, while Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar provided important breakthroughs.
With this result, India lead the five-match ODI series 1-0. New Zealand will now look to bounce back, while India will aim to extend their advantage in the next match.
