On a dew-laden evening at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, Virat Kohli continued his pursuit of cricketing immortality, guiding India to a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening ODI of the three-match series. While Kohli fell just seven runs short of a century, his masterclass, paired with a gritty finish from KL Rahul, ensured India overcame a late-innings collapse triggered by Kyle Jamieson.
Virat Kohli, who now exclusively features in the ODI format, looked every bit the chase master as India pursued a target of 302. During his 91-ball 93, Kohli became the fastest player to reach 28,000 runs in international cricket. He also surpassed Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer of all time, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli’s approach was a blend of calculated aggression and strike rotation. He struck six boundaries in his first 20 deliveries, a move he later described as a tactical counterattack to unsettle the New Zealand attack after the early departure of Rohit Sharma for just 26.
"Honestly, if I look back at my whole journey, it's nothing short of a dream come true for me," Kohli said after receiving the Player-of-the-Match award. "I’ve had to work for a lot more to get to the place I am today, and I feel nothing but gratitude."
India appeared to be cruising toward the target, sitting comfortably at 234/3 with Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, 49 at the crease. However, the game flipped on its head in the space of seven balls. Kyle Jamieson, a long-time nemesis for India, produced a magical spell to dismiss Kohli, Iyer, and Ravindra Jadeja in quick succession.
Suddenly, India found themselves at 242/6, requiring 60 runs with a hobbling Washington Sundar and an inexperienced Harshit Rana left to support KL Rahul.
The pressure was palpable as the required rate touched a run-a-ball. Harshit Rana, earlier the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/13 in his second spell, displayed maturity. He struck a vital 29 off 23 balls to bring the target within reach.
When Rana fell, KL Rahul took full responsibility. Despite the tension, Rahul remained composed, sealing the win with an over to spare by lashing three boundaries; including a massive six over cow corner, off debutant Kristian Clarke.
Earlier, New Zealand posted a competitive 300/8, largely thanks to a 117-run opening stand between Henry Nicholls (62) and Devon Conway (56). While India’s seamers pulled the game back in the middle overs, Daryl Mitchell’s 84 off 71 balls ensured the Black Caps reached the 300-run mark.
Bowling impact:
Harshit Rana: 2/13 (Middle-over breakthrough)
Kyle Jamieson: 3/49 (Late-inning surge)
While India takes the points, captain Shubman Gill; who contributed a steady 56, will be wary of the middle-order wobble. For New Zealand, the performance of Daryl Mitchell and the threat posed by Jamieson provide a clear blueprint for a comeback.
The teams now travel to Rajkot for the second ODI on January 14, where New Zealand will look to level the series.
