Vadodara: India began their ODI series against New Zealand with a thrilling four-wicket victory here on Sunday, riding on a masterful 93 from Virat Kohli and a nerveless finish by KL Rahul in a tense chase of 301.
Kohli missed out on what would have been his 85th international hundred, but his 91-ball knock, laced with eight boundaries and a six, anchored India’s pursuit and earned him the Player of the Match award. During the innings, the former captain also became the fastest batter in history to reach 28,000 international runs, achieving the milestone in his 624th innings – 20 fewer than Sachin Tendulkar.
India appeared firmly in control with Kohli at the crease, as he stitched together a 118-run stand with Shubman Gill, who made 56, and added 77 with Shreyas Iyer, who scored 49 on his return from injury. However, the match turned dramatically when Kyle Jamieson removed Kohli, Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja in the space of seven deliveries, reducing India from cruising to suddenly scrambling.
With 59 needed off 53 balls and lower-order batters at the crease, the contest swung back in New Zealand’s favour. Harshit Rana played a bold cameo of 29 off 23 balls, easing the pressure, before Rahul took charge. The wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten on 29 from 21 deliveries and sealed the match with a decisive over, striking debutant Kristian Clarke for 4, 4 and 6 to finish the chase with six balls to spare.
Earlier, New Zealand posted 300 for 8 after opting to bat. Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62) provided a solid opening stand, while Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with a counter-attacking 84 off 71 balls. India’s seamers kept the scoring in check, with Harshit Rana removing both openers and Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna chipping in with key wickets. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed the dangerous Glenn Phillips to prevent late acceleration.
Despite promising partnerships, New Zealand struggled to convert starts into a commanding total, leaving India with a chase that seemed manageable until Jamieson’s burst created late drama.
In the end, Rahul’s composure under pressure ensured India crossed the line, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the series and a reminder of their depth in crunch moments.
