In a high-octane encounter on the brand-new Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, India clinched an exhilarating 4-wicket victory over New Zealand to take a 1-0 lead within the three-match sequence. Chasing a formidable goal of 301, the Males in Blue relied on a masterclass from Virat Kohli and a fearless all-round cameo from Harshit Rana to cross the road with six balls to spare.
Earlier within the day, the Kiwis posted 300/8 behind Daryl Mitchell’s counter-attacking 84, however India’s resilience ensured an ideal begin to their 2026 house season. The match was highlighted by Kohli reaching the monumental milestone of 28,000 worldwide runs on his daughter’s fifth birthday. Regardless of a late wobble the place India slipped to 242/5, the composure of the decrease order noticed the hosts house in a final-over end. This victory marks India’s first ODI win at this venue, setting a dominant tone for the remainder of the sequence.
IND vs NZ, 1st ODI: Virat Kohli masterclass and the historic 28,000 milestone
After the early departure of Rohit Sharma for 26, Kohli walked out to a deafening roar and instantly took management of the 301-run chase with surgical precision. He anchored the innings with an excellent 93 off 91 balls, punishing any width from the Kiwi pacers and manipulating the gaps together with his trademark wristy flick.
Throughout this innings, Kohli grew to become the quickest participant in historical past to achieve 28,000 worldwide runs, attaining the feat in simply his 624th innings, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. His 123-run partnership with Shubman Gill (56) neutralized the New Zealand spin assault and positioned India ready of absolute command by the thirtieth over. At the same time as he neared a century, Kohli maintained a excessive strike fee, making certain the required run fee by no means climbed past attain regardless of the mounting stress of the chase.
Nevertheless, simply as 100 appeared sure, he was caught brilliantly by Michael Bracewell off Kyle Jamieson, leaving the stadium in shocked silence. Regardless of lacking out on the private milestone of a century, his innings offered the bedrock upon which India’s victory was constructed. Kohli’s presence on the crease acted as a stabilizer for Shreyas Iyer, who performed a supporting position of 49 to maintain the scoreboard ticking. This knock additional solidified his standing because the premier ;chase grasp’ of the trendy period, particularly on such a major private date.
Additionally WATCH: IND vs NZ: Shreyas Iyer sends Michael Bracewell packing with a rocket throw during Vadodara ODI
IND vs NZ, 1st ODI: Harshit Rana’s all-round heroics stun the Black Caps
Harshit emerged because the unsung hero of the match, delivering a clutch efficiency with each ball and bat to tilt the sport in India’s favour. Within the first innings, it was Rana who offered the essential breakthrough by dismissing each set openers, Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls, in successive overs to interrupt a 117-run opening stand as he completed with figures of two/65.
When he arrived on the crease with India needing 59 runs from 45 balls and the specialist batters again within the pavilion, Rana confirmed outstanding temperament for a younger all-rounder. He performed a fearless cameo of 29 runs off simply 23 deliveries, together with an enormous six over long-on that shifted the momentum again towards the hosts. His capacity to search out boundaries on the loss of life relieved the stress on KL Rahul, permitting the senior professional to ultimately seal the sport within the penultimate over.
Though Rana was dismissed within the forty seventh over, his contribution had already lowered the equation to a manageable run-a-ball state of affairs. Mixed together with his early wickets, this efficiency has firmly established Rana as a severe contender for the seam-bowling all-rounder spot. His vitality within the discipline and defiance below stress have been the ultimate components India wanted to beat a disciplined New Zealand unit.
Right here’s how followers reacted:
It’s troublesome to check period as a result of I didn’t watch Richards and Sachin confronted far tougher circumstances, however Kohli’s by far probably the most dominant ODI batsmen I’ve ever seen.
Truth he’s nonetheless doing it’s bonkers.
— Neal Gardner (@Nealbackup) January 11, 2026
Virat’s batting proper now could be a pleasure to observe. The liberty, the benefit, and the happiness he’s taking part in with exhibits simply how a lot he’s having fun with the sport.#INDvNZ
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) January 11, 2026
Hardly ever will you see Virat Kohli getting out like that within the 90s in an ODI. It was 100
written throughout it tonight, the everyday ODI template Virat has championed.
By no means thoughts, he’ll get it any sport he needs to the best way he’s been batting in ODIs just lately.
Simply that in the present day additionally… pic.twitter.com/AyKcWoFWDX— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) January 11, 2026
Harshit Rana has been persistently giving India breakthrough. Dum hai.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 11, 2026
Harshit Rana exhibits what confidence can do to a pacer. Now he bowls quick, experiments with slower ball, swings the ball and is not scared to bowl the bouncer. Heartening signal for Indian cricket.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 11, 2026
The eyes Chico, they by no means lie.
The glint in his eyes is again, so is the starvation. 5 consecutive 50+ scores. That is the Virat we all know. Properly performed @imVkohli 👏👏😊 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/vmbvzcTVUQ— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 11, 2026
Nonetheless ruling. Nonetheless rising. Nonetheless HIM. 🐐
Virat Kohli stored the blade sharp and the requirements larger than ever. 🔝
A basic chase grasp’s knock, 9️⃣3️⃣ whereas searching it down in the present day. 🎯#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/xHDBHq0B4I
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 11, 2026
Made us proud as normal, Harshit! 👏💙 pic.twitter.com/bAg3tYuZ7b
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) January 11, 2026
Properly performed, Harshit Rana. That is the way you flip trolls into appreciation. Respect. pic.twitter.com/ucDp4SzQYV
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) January 11, 2026
forty fifth Participant-of-the-Match for Virat Kohli in ODIs 🫡🔥#ViratKohli #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/tENqPX0pih
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 11, 2026
Additionally WATCH: IND vs NZ: Prasidh Krishna cleans up Mitchell Hay with a jaffa in the first ODI
