IND vs NZ 1st ODI: Kohli's 74 and Kamboj's 2 for 22 Seal Five-Wicket DLS Win in Auckland

India lead the series 1-0 after a rain-hit opener

The IND vs NZ 1st ODI ended with India beating New Zealand by five wickets under the DLS method in the first ODI of the five-match series at Eden Park, Auckland, on 4 November 2026. New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs. India then chased a revised target of 143 in 32 overs, finishing on 143 for 5 in 22.4 overs.

The result gives India a 1-0 lead. Full series scores and later results stay on our New Zealand vs India ODI Series 2026 results page. For the venue and team-news backdrop before the match, see our earlier 1st ODI preview.

How India restricted New Zealand to 185

After New Zealand were put in, India's seamers struck regularly. Arshdeep Singh finished with 4 for 70 from 10 overs. Anshul Kamboj removed captain Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith on his way to 2 for 22 from 10 overs (two maidens) and was named Player of the Match. Gurnoor Brar backed them with 3 for 44.

Tim Seifert top-scored among New Zealand's specialist batters with 38 off 43. Glenn Phillips made 30, Daryl Mitchell 28, and a late blast from Blair Tickner (34 off 23, four sixes) with Jacob Duffy lifted the total past 180. Axar Patel conceded only 12 runs in five overs.

Key moments that shaped the New Zealand innings:

• Will Young and Henry Nicholls both fell early to Arshdeep
• Seifert and Phillips could not convert starts into big scores
• Tickner's late hitting with Duffy was the only prolonged counter-attack

Kohli's 74 steers the DLS chase

India's reply began poorly: Rohit Sharma was out for a duck in the first over to Kyle Jamieson. Captain Shubman Gill (37 off 56) and Virat Kohli then built a 113-run second-wicket stand that soaked up rain delays and kept the required rate under control.

Rain twice interrupted the chase. The second innings was reduced, and the DLS target became 143 from 32 overs. Kohli took charge after the breaks, finishing with 74 off 51 balls (13 fours, one six) — his 80th ODI fifty — before Jacob Duffy dismissed him. Duffy also removed Shreyas Iyer (15) and Axar Patel (0) in a late cluster of wickets, but by then India needed only a handful of runs. KL Rahul and Naman Dhir closed out the win.

What this match means before Wellington

Three clear takeaways ahead of the second ODI in Wellington on 7 November (7:30 am IST):

1. Seam depth without Bumrah — Arshdeep, Kamboj and Brar shared nine wickets. That attack, plus the option of Mohammed Siraj from the ODI squad named for this tour, gives India cover if Wellington offers bounce.
2. Kohli's form — A strike rate of 145.10 in a stop-start chase underlines why he remains the centre of India's middle order on this trip.
3. New Zealand's batting gaps — With Devon Conway already missing the opener through concussion (and later ruled out of the rest of the ODIs by NZC), the hosts need bigger contributions from Young, Mitchell and Phillips.

Sources: completed match scorecard (New Zealand 185 in 40.2 overs; India 143/5 in 22.4 overs, DLS target 143), ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz reports for Player of the Match and partnership figures. Numbers above are from the official scorecard, not estimates.