Virat Kohli Leads India’s Chase as Arshdeep and Kamboj Set Up Eden Park Victory
India began their ODI series against New Zealand with a convincing five-wicket victory at Eden Park, Auckland, on November 4. After restricting the hosts to 185 in 40.2 overs, India successfully chased the revised target of 143 in 22.4 overs, following rain interruptions.
Virat Kohli led the batting effort with an attacking 74 off 51 deliveries, while captain Shubman Gill contributed 37. Earlier, India’s fast bowlers had dismantled the New Zealand batting order, with Arshdeep Singh claiming four wickets, Gurnoor Brar taking three and Player of the Match Anshul Kamboj picking up two.
The result gives India a 1-0 advantage in the five-match ODI series, with the second match scheduled to take place in Wellington on November 7.
India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Full Match Score and Result
Final Result: India won by five wickets (DLS method).
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand.
Date: November 4, 2026.
New Zealand: 185 all out in 40.2 overs.
India: 143/5 in 22.4 overs.
Revised Target: 143 runs in 31 overs.
Player of the Match: Anshul Kamboj (2 wickets for 22 runs).
Series Status: India lead 1-0.
Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar Put New Zealand Under Pressure
New Zealand struggled to establish a strong batting partnership after India chose to bowl first. Arshdeep Singh provided the early breakthrough by dismissing Will Young for nine. He then removed Henry Nicholls and continued to trouble the middle order.
Tim Seifert offered some resistance with 38 runs from 43 balls, while Daryl Mitchell added 28. Glenn Phillips contributed 30 from 51 deliveries, but New Zealand could not convert these starts into a substantial total.
Gurnoor Brar also made an important impact, dismissing Seifert, Tom Latham and Blair Tickner. His three wickets prevented New Zealand from building momentum during the innings.
Anshul Kamboj delivered one of the most economical spells of the match. He finished with figures of 2/22 in 10 overs, including two maiden overs, removing captain Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith.
New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs. A late contribution from Blair Tickner, who scored 34 off 23 balls, and Jacob Duffy, who remained unbeaten on 15, helped the hosts add valuable runs through a 39-run final-wicket partnership.
India’s bowling figures:
Arshdeep Singh – 4 wickets for 70 runs in 10 overs.
Gurnoor Brar – 3 wickets for 44 runs in 9.2 overs.
Anshul Kamboj – 2 wickets for 22 runs in 10 overs.
Axar Patel – 0 wickets for 12 runs in 5 overs.
Auqib Nabi – 0 wickets for 33 runs in 6 overs.
Virat Kohli’s 74 Powers India’s DLS Chase
India’s chase got off to a difficult start when Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the opening over by Kyle Jamieson. However, Gill and Kohli quickly stabilised the innings and built the partnership India needed.
Kohli looked particularly fluent, finding the boundaries regularly and putting pressure on the New Zealand bowling attack. He brought up his half-century in just 35 balls, registering his 80th ODI fifty in the process.
The former India captain eventually scored 74 off 51 deliveries, hitting 13 fours and one six. His innings provided the foundation for India’s successful chase.
Gill supported him with 37 from 56 balls, striking five boundaries. The pair added 113 runs for the second wicket, taking India into a commanding position before Gill was caught by wicketkeeper Tom Latham off Nathan Smith’s bowling.
Jacob Duffy Creates a Late Scare
New Zealand briefly fought back through Jacob Duffy, who dismissed Kohli for 74 and then removed Axar Patel for a duck in the same over.
Duffy continued his impressive spell by taking the wicket of Shreyas Iyer, who scored 15 from 13 deliveries. He finished with figures of 3/49 in seven overs, making him New Zealand’s most successful bowler.
However, the damage had already been done by India’s top-order partnership. KL Rahul remained unbeaten on three, while Naman Dhir finished the contest with an unbeaten five off three balls.
Dhir struck the winning boundary, taking India to 143/5 in 22.4 overs and sealing a five-wicket victory under the DLS method.
Virat Kohli and Anshul Kamboj Lead India’s Winning Performance
Kohli’s attacking half-century was the standout batting performance, while Kamboj’s disciplined bowling earned him the Player of the Match award.
The Indian fast-bowling unit also deserves credit for restricting New Zealand to a below-par total. Arshdeep’s four wickets and Brar’s three strikes ensured that the hosts never gained complete control of their innings.
For New Zealand, Seifert, Phillips and Tickner showed resistance, while Duffy’s late bowling effort offered some hope during India’s chase. However, the hosts could not prevent India from taking the opening match.
With a 1-0 lead secured, India will now travel to Wellington for the second ODI on November 7. New Zealand will be looking to bounce back, while Gill’s side will aim to carry its winning momentum into the next encounter.
