Virat Kohli was cruising on 93 while chasing 301 in the first ODI at Vadodara, seemingly in full control, until Kyle Jamieson struck, dismissing Kohli, Jadeja, and Iyer in just seven balls. Suddenly, India needed 59 off 53 with five wickets in hand, including lower-order Harshit Rana, while Washington Sundar was sidelined.
The chase turned thrilling, with Rana’s 23-ball 29 and a hobbling Sundar helping set the stage. KL Rahul finished it, hitting debutant Kristian Clarke for 4, 4, 6 to seal victory with six balls to spare. Kohli’s innings, featuring 118- and 77-run stands with Shubman Gill and Iyer, combined vintage flair with modern control.
Just short of a century, Kohli fell to Jamieson, who then removed Jadeja and Iyer. Rana added 37 with Rahul before falling with 22 needed off 22, and with Sundar limited to walking between wickets, India eked out singles until Rahul completed the chase.
India’s dominance reflected New Zealand’s inexperienced, injury-hit attack. Rana dismissed both openers, Conway off an inducker, Nicholls with a wide slower yorker, while India’s seamers took most of the wickets, and Kuldeep Yadav removed Glenn Phillips with a clever wrong’un.
Daryl Mitchell kept New Zealand competitive, reaching a 51-ball half-century and unleashing a 4, 6, 4 off Prasidh Krishna, including a scooped four, before falling lbw.
