SportsPosted at: Nov 4 2026 3:33PM


Kohli's 74, Kamboj's disciplined spell steer India to rain-hit win

Auckland, Nov 4 (UNI) Virat Kohli's commanding 74 off 51 balls and Anshul Kamboj's economical bowling spell of two for 22 powered India to a five-wicket victory over New Zealand in a rain-interrupted first ODI at Eden Park here on Wednesday, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Kohli was named Game Changer of the Match for his match-defining batting effort, while Kamboj received the Player of the Match award for his disciplined bowling performance that helped restrict the hosts to 185.
The contest witnessed two rain interruptions, disrupting the proceedings and forcing a reduction in India's chase to 32 overs. The target was revised to 143 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
India captain Shubman Gill also showed his displeasure over continuing to play in rainy conditions, expressing his dissatisfaction during the proceedings.
Chasing the revised target, India reached 143 for five in 22.4 overs, with Kohli and Gill stitching together a crucial 113-run partnership for the second wicket after an early setback.
India's chase began on a disappointing note when Rohit Sharma departed for a duck in the first over, caught by New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner off Kyle Jamieson.
Gill and Kohli then took charge, combining caution with aggression to steady the innings. Gill scored 37 off 56 balls, including five boundaries, while Kohli dominated the New Zealand attack with an authoritative display of strokeplay.
Kohli struck 13 fours and a six, bringing up his 80th ODI half-century. He repeatedly punished the short deliveries, particularly targeting Blair Tickner, against whom he collected three successive boundaries in the 16th over.
The former India captain also launched a six over mid-wicket off Tickner before continuing his assault with boundaries against Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy.
Gill was dismissed for 37 in the 19th over when he attempted a pull shot off Nathan Smith but found wicketkeeper Tom Latham, ending the 113-run partnership. Kohli continued to dictate terms but fell for 74 in the 20th over, caught by Tim Seifert at deep backward square leg off Jacob Duffy.
Duffy struck again in the same over, removing Axar Patel for a duck with a brilliant catch by Glenn Phillips at backward point. Shreyas Iyer contributed 15 off 13 balls before falling to Duffy in the 22nd over, caught by Henry Nicholls. Duffy finished with three wickets for 49 runs in seven overs, while Jamieson and Nathan Smith claimed one wicket each.
With India needing only a few runs, KL Rahul (3 not out) and Naman Dhir (5 not out) completed the chase. Dhir pulled Nathan Smith through mid-wicket for a boundary to seal the victory in 22.4 overs.
Earlier, New Zealand, after sent into bat, were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs, struggling against India's pace attack and losing wickets at regular intervals.
Arshdeep Singh led the bowling effort with four wickets for 70 runs in 10 overs, while debutant Gurnoor Brar claimed three for 44 in 9.2 overs. Kamboj provided crucial support with his economical spell of two for 22 in 10 overs.
New Zealand suffered an early setback when Will Young (9) was caught by Shreyas Iyer off Arshdeep in the fifth over.
India had an opportunity to strike even earlier, but Naman Dhir dropped a straightforward catch at mid-wicket when Tim Seifert attempted a heave off Auqib Nabi in the fourth over. Seifert, who was yet to open his account, went on to score 38 off 43 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
Axar Patel also failed to complete a difficult diving chance at backward point when Henry Nicholls edged an Arshdeep delivery in the seventh over. Nicholls, however, was dismissed for nine in the ninth over, caught by Naman Dhir.
Gurnoor removed Seifert with a short delivery that was caught by substitute fielder Ruturaj Gaikwad before producing one of the fielding highlights of the innings by taking a spectacular one-handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss New Zealand captain Tom Latham for three.
Daryl Mitchell made 28 off 41 balls before being run out through a sharp piece of fielding by Rohit Sharma and quick glovework by KL Rahul.
Kamboj then dismissed Mitchell Santner (4) and Nathan Smith (1), with Virat Kohli taking an outstanding low diving catch at second slip to remove the latter.
Glenn Phillips contributed 30 off 51 balls but was caught by Shreyas Iyer off Arshdeep in the 36th over. Arshdeep also removed Kyle Jamieson for one to complete his four-wicket haul.
New Zealand's lower order attempted a late recovery through Blair Tickner, who smashed 34 off just 23 deliveries, including four sixes and a boundary. He particularly attacked Arshdeep, hitting three sixes in the 38th over as the Indian pacer missed his yorker length.
Gurnoor eventually ended Tickner's counterattack, having him caught by KL Rahul in the 41st over.
Jacob Duffy remained unbeaten on 15 as New Zealand were dismissed for 185. Auqib Nabi went wicketless in his six overs, conceding 33 runs.
India's five-wicket victory gave them a 1-0 lead in the series, with the second ODI set to provide New Zealand an opportunity to level the contest.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand: 185 all out in 40.2 overs (Tim Seifert 38, Blair Tickner 34, Glenn Phillips 30; Arshdeep Singh 4/70, Gurnoor Brar 3/44, Anshul Kamboj 2/22); India: 143/5 in 22.4 overs (Target: 143 in 32 overs, DLS) (Virat Kohli 74, Shubman Gill 37; Jacob Duffy 3/49).
Result: India won by five wickets (DLS method).
Player of the Match: Anshul Kamboj
Game Changer of the Match: Virat Kohli
UNI BDN
Tags: #Kohli's 74# Kamboj's disciplined spell steer India to rain-hit win
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