Gill credits Rohit's run-out as turning point in India's 5-wicket win vs NZ
Synopsis
Rohit Sharma's veteran instincts at square leg — a sharp run-out of Daryl Mitchell — proved the game's hinge moment, captain Gill revealed after India's five-wicket win in Auckland. With Kohli's 74 off 51 anchoring the chase and Kamboj and Brar outfoxing the hosts with seam and bounce, India's first ODI in this New Zealand series was a near-complete performance.
Key Takeaways
India beat New Zealand by 5 wickets in the rain-affected first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland on 4 November 2026 .
New Zealand were bowled out for 185 ; India chased a revised target of 143 in 22.4 overs .
Arshdeep Singh took 4 wickets , Gurnoor Brar claimed 3 for 44 , and Anshul Kamboj returned 2 for 22 .
Virat Kohli scored 74 off 51 deliveries to anchor the chase; Shubman Gill contributed 37 .
Captain Gill credited Rohit Sharma's run-out of Daryl Mitchell as the game's turning point.
India lead the five-match ODI series 1-0 ; second ODI is in Wellington .
India captain Shubman Gill pointed to Rohit Sharma's sharp run-out of Daryl Mitchell as the decisive moment in India's five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the rain-affected first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland on 4 November 2026. The dismissal, Gill said, broke a threatening partnership between Mitchell and Glenn Phillips that had the potential to tilt the match in New Zealand's favour.
How India Bowled New Zealand Out
India dismissed New Zealand for 185 before chasing down a Duckworth-Lewis revised target of 143 in 22.4 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Arshdeep Singh led the bowling with 4 wickets, while Gurnoor Brar claimed 3 for 44 and Anshul Kamboj returned 2 for 22 from his 10 overs.
Gill was effusive about Rohit's contribution in the field. 'I think we were very good with the bowling. And I think our fielding was also really good. That run out by Rohit bhai, I think changed the momentum of the game. I think it was really that partnership — Mitchell and Phillips — we saw that even in India, those two batted really well in India. And overall I think a very good team performance for us,' the skipper said after the match.
Gill on Kamboj and Brar's Impact
The India captain singled out the two lesser-heralded pacers for special mention, crediting the conditions at Eden Park for amplifying their strengths. 'Anshul is the kind of a bowler, I think he's tailor-made for these kind of conditions, always nippy, trying to seam the ball. And good with the old ball. We felt when there's not much happening from the wicket, he [Brar] can create that extra bounce and with his pace — the way both of them bowled tonight was really magnificent to watch,' Gill added.
Notably, the Mitchell-Phillips combination had already caused India problems on home soil earlier in the year, making Rohit's intervention to end that stand all the more critical.
Virat Kohli Steers the Chase
India's run-chase was disrupted twice by rain, which reduced the contest to 32 overs and triggered a revised target. The changing weather also quickened the surface, making conditions trickier for batters who had already settled in. It was Virat Kohli's innings of 74 off 51 deliveries that steadied the pursuit, with Gill contributing 37 as the pair put India firmly in command.
'It's never easy when you are set and then it rains and the wicket got a little bit quick, it got a little bit more nippy after the rain. So the target reduced. So we were just trying to play our normal cricket. And I think the way Virat bhai batted, it made things a lot more easy for us,' Gill said.
India's Focus Ahead of Wellington ODI
With the second ODI scheduled in Wellington, Gill indicated India would resist the temptation to tinker after a convincing opening performance, emphasising consistency as the team's primary goal. 'Nothing really, if we are able to replicate our performance, it's all about consistency for us. If we are able to do the same thing over and over again, I think we'll be in a great space,' he concluded.
India will look to extend their series lead when they take on New Zealand in Wellington in the next match.
Point of View
Not just batting firepower — Rohit's run-out was not luck but the product of experience and game-reading. The selection of Kamboj and Brar ahead of more established names looks vindicated, but the real test will come on flatter pitches in Wellington. Kohli's 74 off 51 also signals that his ODI form remains undimmed, a critical variable for India's series strategy. If India can replicate this blend of disciplined pace bowling and sharp ground fielding across five games, New Zealand will find the series difficult to level.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the India vs New Zealand first ODI in Auckland?
India won the first ODI by five wickets at Eden Park, Auckland on 4 November 2026. They bowled New Zealand out for 185 and chased a rain-revised target of 143 in 22.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Why did Shubman Gill call Rohit Sharma's run-out a turning point?
Gill said the run-out of Daryl Mitchell broke a dangerous partnership between Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, who had also troubled India during their tour of India earlier. Ending that stand, Gill argued, shifted the game's momentum decisively in India's favour.
How did India's bowlers perform against New Zealand in Auckland?
Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the attack with 4 wickets. Gurnoor Brar took 3 for 44 and Anshul Kamboj returned 2 for 22 from 10 overs. Together they bowled New Zealand out for 185.
How did Virat Kohli help India's chase in the first ODI?
Kohli scored 74 off 51 deliveries to anchor the chase after rain twice interrupted play and quickened the surface. Captain Gill credited Kohli's innings with making the revised target more manageable for the team.
When and where is the second India vs New Zealand ODI?
The second ODI is scheduled in Wellington. Gill indicated India would look to maintain consistency rather than make significant changes after their victory in Auckland.
