Virat Kohli’s classy 93 anchors India’s composed chase in Vadodara ODI opener
India take early series lead with calm four-wicket win
India began their New Year’s home season on a steady note, registering a composed four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara. Chasing a competitive target of 301, the hosts reached the mark with an over to spare, going 1–0 up in the three-match series and once again showcasing their comfort in controlled home chases.
The chase was anchored by Virat Kohli’s assured 93, supported well by Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, after Daryl Mitchell’s counter-attacking 84 had earlier powered New Zealand to 300 for 8.
Match context: India trust their chase under lights
Winning the toss at Kotambi Stadium, India opted to field first, confident in their batting depth under lights. New Zealand responded with a disciplined batting effort, setting a challenging but manageable total.
India’s reply was measured rather than explosive. Despite losing wickets at intervals, they never allowed the required run rate to spiral, maintaining control through all three phases of the chase and finishing the job in 49 overs.
Team selections and balance on display
India went in with a well-rounded bowling unit, featuring Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna in pace, backed by the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. The six-bowler combination gave the team flexibility and allowed the batters to approach the chase without panic.
New Zealand, meanwhile, leaned on experience in the batting department with Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell forming the core. Their bowling attack was led by Kyle Jamieson, supported by Zak Foulkes, debutant Kristian Clarke and leg-spinner Adithya Ashok. Clarke’s ODI debut brought energy but also reflected the learning curve of bowling at the death in Indian conditions.
Key performances that shaped the match
Daryl Mitchell was the standout for New Zealand, scoring a brisk 84 off 71 balls, striking five fours and three sixes. His innings lifted the visitors from a solid base to a genuinely competitive total in the final ten overs.
Earlier, Conway (56) and Nicholls (62) laid the foundation with a 117-run opening stand, giving New Zealand exactly the platform they needed on a good batting surface.
For India, the chase revolved around Kohli’s 93 off 91 balls. He started fluently, reached his fifty in 44 balls, and then expertly controlled the tempo. Gill’s composed 56 and Iyer’s fluent 49 ensured India always had momentum, while KL Rahul’s unbeaten 29 off 21 balls finished the game without drama.
Tactical flow and game patterns
New Zealand followed a textbook ODI batting approach — steady powerplay, consolidation through the middle, and a late surge. They were 49 without loss after ten overs, reached 200 by the 38th, and added a healthy 88 runs in the final ten.
India mirrored that structure almost perfectly. They were 48 for 1 after the powerplay, crossed 200 in the 34th over, and hit 250 by the 43rd. Kyle Jamieson was clearly used as the strike weapon throughout, picking up key wickets and keeping the contest alive despite India’s control.
Key match-ups that added tension
Jamieson’s battle with India’s top order was one of the defining subplots. His four-wicket haul included Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and, crucially, Kohli for 93, briefly opening the door for New Zealand late in the chase.
Mitchell’s duel with India’s seamers was equally impactful. While Siraj, Krishna and Rana all picked up two wickets each, none could completely shut down Mitchell’s scoring zones. At the death, debutant Kristian Clarke faced a tough initiation, conceding boundaries even as he managed to pick up a wicket.
What lies ahead in the series
With a 1–0 lead, India will be pleased with the batting template they followed in Vadodara but may look to tighten their new-ball and death-overs bowling. The depth provided by Rahul, Sundar and the lower order gives them flexibility going forward.
For New Zealand, the positives are clear. A 300-plus total and Jamieson’s incisive spell showed they can compete. The challenge will be improving control from the rest of the bowling attack and squeezing India harder in the middle overs.
Final word: Competitive signs despite Indian control
This opening ODI highlighted India’s efficiency in structured chases at home, with Kohli once again central to their calm pursuit of a par-plus target. However, New Zealand were competitive for long stretches, particularly with the bat and through Jamieson’s impact spell.
India hold the early advantage, but if New Zealand can better align their batting surges with tighter middle-overs bowling, the remaining matches in the series could be far closer than this composed finish suggests.