Kohli's 74 off 51 powers India to 5-wicket win in 1st ODI vs NZ
Synopsis
Kohli's rain-interrupted 74 at Eden Park did more than win a match — it broke a Tendulkar record. By surpassing Sachin's 8,720 runs in ODI run chases, Kohli staked a fresh claim in cricket history, even as an 'inexperienced' Indian pace attack quietly dismantled New Zealand for just 185.
Key Takeaways
India beat New Zealand by five wickets in the rain-affected 1st ODI at Eden Park, Auckland on 4 November 2026 .
Virat Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls (13 fours, 1 six), steering India to a revised DLS target of 143 in 22.4 overs .
Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar (8,720) to become the highest run-scorer in ODI run chases with 8,741 runs .
Arshdeep Singh took 4 for 70 , Gurnoor Brar took 3 for 44 , and Anshul Kamboj took 2 for 22 to bowl New Zealand out for 185 .
Rohit Sharma fell for a duck in the opening over; Shubman Gill contributed 37 in a century stand with Kohli — their sixth 100-plus partnership in 27 ODI innings .
India lead the five-match series 1-0 .
Virat Kohli struck a commanding 74 off 51 balls as India defeated New Zealand by five wickets in a rain-affected first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland, on 4 November 2026, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Anshul Kamboj had earlier combined to restrict New Zealand to 185 before a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) revision brought India's target down to 143 in 32 overs, which the visitors chased down in 22.4 overs.
India's Pace Attack Dismantles New Zealand
Arshdeep Singh was the standout with figures of 4 for 70, backed by Gurnoor Brar's 3 for 44 and Anshul Kamboj's 2 for 22. The collective effort — from an attack widely described as 'inexperienced' — proved more than adequate, bundling the hosts out for 185 in 40.2 overs. Tim Seifert top-scored with 38, while Blair Tickner contributed a lower-order 34. New Zealand never built a partnership of consequence against the disciplined Indian seamers.
Kohli Anchors the Chase Despite Rain Breaks
India's chase began on the worst possible note when Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a six-ball duck by Kyle Jamieson in the opening over. The contest was then interrupted twice by rain, reducing the match to 32 overs and revising India's target to 143 under DLS. Kohli joined skipper Shubman Gill and the two took complete control. After the second resumption, Kohli brought up his half-century off just 35 deliveries with a powerful pull through mid-wicket in the 16th over, finishing with 13 fours and a six.
Kohli Overtakes Tendulkar in ODI Run-Chase Record Books
The knock carried a historic milestone: Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in ODI run chases, taking his tally to 8,741 runs against Tendulkar's 8,720. Notably, Kohli and Gill's century partnership was their sixth 100-plus stand in 27 ODI innings together, underscoring how reliably the pair have complemented each other at the top. Gill contributed a measured 37 off 56 balls before Nathan Smith had him caught behind in the 19th over.
Late NZ Flicker, But India Seal It Comfortably
Jacob Duffy removed Kohli for 74 — caught by Tim Seifert at deep backward square leg — and struck again in the same over to dismiss Axar Patel for a duck. Shreyas Iyer then fell for 15, giving New Zealand a brief late glimmer. However, KL Rahul and Naman Dhir ensured there were no further alarms. Dhir sealed the win by pulling Nathan Smith through mid-wicket for four. Duffy finished with 3 for 49, the only bowler to offer New Zealand real resistance in the chase. India now carry momentum into the second ODI of the series.
Point of View
But the more strategically significant story is India's pace depth. Labelled 'inexperienced', Arshdeep, Brar and Kamboj collectively took nine wickets and kept New Zealand to 185 on a surface that could have offered more. If this trio sustains that form across five ODIs, India's bowling variety heading into next year's major assignments looks considerably stronger than the sceptics suggested.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the 1st ODI between India and New Zealand?
India beat New Zealand by five wickets in the rain-affected 1st ODI at Eden Park, Auckland on 4 November 2026. India chased a DLS-revised target of 143, reaching it in 22.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
What record did Virat Kohli break in this match?
Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in ODI run chases, taking his tally to 8,741 runs against Tendulkar's 8,720. He achieved this milestone during his innings of 74 off 51 balls at Eden Park.
How did India's bowlers perform in the 1st ODI?
India's pace attack bowled New Zealand out for 185 in 40.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh took 4 for 70, Gurnoor Brar claimed 3 for 44, and Anshul Kamboj picked up 2 for 22, with the trio combining for nine of the ten wickets.
Why was India's target revised to 143?
The match at Eden Park was interrupted twice by rain, which reduced the game to 32 overs per side and triggered the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. India's original target — in response to New Zealand's 185 all out — was revised down to 143.
How did the Kohli-Gill partnership influence the chase?
After Rohit Sharma's first-over duck, Kohli and Shubman Gill built a century stand that effectively decided the match. It was their sixth 100-plus partnership in 27 ODI innings together; Gill made 37 before being caught behind off Nathan Smith in the 19th over.
