Introduction
The IND vs NZ 1st ODI highlights from Vadodara had everything: Virat Kohli’s 93, Rohit Sharma’s 650th international six and a tense finish as India chased 301 to beat New Zealand by 4 wickets, reaching 306/6 in 49 overs at BCA Stadium, Kotambi, on 11 January 2026.
- Full Score & Match Summary – India Edge a Thriller
- Kohli’s 93 & 28,000-Run Milestone – New Year, Same Chase Master
- New Zealand’s Top Order Fires but India Close It Out
- Rohit’s 650th Six, Gill’s Captaincy & the Rahul–Rana Finish
- Injury Woes – Pant Out, Sundar Sidelined
- Series Context – What’s Next in Rajkot & Indore?
- Key Highlights
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Kohli also crossed 28,000 international runs to become the second-highest run-scorer in cricket history and the fastest to that landmark, while Rohit became the first batter ever to hit 650 sixes across formats.
Full Score & Match Summary – India Edge a Thriller
New Zealand posted a competitive 300/8 in 50 overs after being sent in, built around Daryl Mitchell’s 84 off 71 balls, Devon Conway’s 56 and Henry Nicholls’ 62.
In reply, India were cruising when Kohli (93 off 91) and skipper Shubman Gill (56 off 71) were together, but a late collapse triggered by Kyle Jamieson’s 4/41 dragged the game into the 49th over before KL Rahul (29* off 21) and Harshit Rana (29 off 23) finished the chase at 306/6.
Cricket fans across India, including Jammu & Kashmir, saw India start 2026 with a nervy but uplifting win that sets the tone for the home season.
Quick Score Summary
- New Zealand: 300/8 (50 overs)
- Daryl Mitchell 84 (71), Henry Nicholls 62 (69), Devon Conway 56 (67)
- Harshit Rana 2/54, Mohammed Siraj 2/40, Prasidh Krishna 2/63
- India: 306/6 (49 overs) – India won by 4 wickets
- Virat Kohli 93 (91), Shubman Gill 56 (71), Shreyas Iyer 49 (47)
- KL Rahul 29* (21), Harshit Rana 29 (23), Rohit Sharma 26 (29; 3×4, 2×6)
- Result: India lead the 3-match ODI series 1–0.
Kohli’s 93 & 28,000-Run Milestone – New Year, Same Chase Master
Kohli walked in early after Rohit’s dismissal and anchored the chase with a 91-ball 93, striking eight fours and a six, and putting on key stands with Gill and Iyer.
He reached 28,000 international runs during the innings, becoming only the third batter to that mark after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara, and the fastest to 28k in just 624 innings, beating Tendulkar’s 644 and Sangakkara’s 666.
Crucially, the same knock also took Kohli past Sangakkara’s career tally, making him the second-highest run-scorer of all time in international cricket, behind only Tendulkar’s 34,000-plus runs.
There was another quiet record: by simply taking the field, Kohli played his 309th ODI for India, moving past Sourav Ganguly (308) into the country’s top-five ODI appearance-makers.
New Zealand’s Top Order Fires but India Close It Out
New Zealand’s batting plan worked for most of the afternoon. Conway and Nicholls added substance at the top before Mitchell’s 84 gave the innings momentum, pushing them to 300/8.
India’s seamers were expensive at times, but Siraj’s tight 2/40, plus double strikes from Rana and Prasidh, stopped the Kiwis from exploding past 320 – a crucial difference in a four-wicket finish.
Rohit’s 650th Six, Gill’s Captaincy & the Rahul–Rana Finish
Rohit’s 26 off 29 might look modest, but his two sixes were historic. The second maximum made him the first player ever to hit 650 sixes in international cricket, extending a record he had already taken past 600 in 2025.
Gill, captaining the ODI side for this home season, justified his call to bowl first and then played a controlled 56, sharing a crucial partnership with Kohli that stabilised the chase after Rohit fell.
The match turned nervy when Jamieson removed Kohli, Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja in a brilliant spell, leaving India wobbling. But KL Rahul once again finished calmly in the death overs, adding 37 with debutant Harshit Rana and then closing the game with help from an injured Washington Sundar; Rahul’s last-over six sealed it in style.
Injury Woes – Pant Out, Sundar Sidelined
India came into the series already missing Rishabh Pant, ruled out of all three ODIs with a side-strain (oblique muscle tear) picked up in practice; Dhruv Jurel has been drafted in as his replacement and joins the squad as backup keeper to Rahul.
During the first ODI, Washington Sundar suffered a side strain after bowling five overs. Indian media reports, citing scans and team sources, now suggest he is likely to miss the rest of the ODI series, though BCCI has not yet issued a formal medical update.
For India, that means more responsibility on Jadeja and part-time options, while someone like Nitish Kumar Reddy could come into the XI as an all-round option in the remaining ODIs.
Series Context – What’s Next in Rajkot & Indore?
This is a three-match ODI series followed by five T20Is in India’s World Cup build-up. The remaining ODIs are scheduled for 14 January in Rajkot and 18 January in Indore.
India’s early 1–0 lead gives them breathing room, but New Zealand will feel they were one dropped catch and one partnership away from an away win. Fans in regions like Jammu & Kashmir, where cricket viewership is huge, will watch closely to see if India can close out the series before the T20 leg begins.
Key Highlights
- India chase 301 to win by 4 wickets, finishing on 306/6 in 49 overs at Vadodara.
- Virat Kohli scores 93 (91), becomes fastest to 28,000 international runs and second-highest run-scorer of all time.
- Rohit Sharma hits his 650th international six; KL Rahul and Harshit Rana hold their nerve to finish a tense chase.
Conclusion
India’s first ODI of 2026 ticked almost every box: Kohli in vintage chase-mode, Rohit breaking another six-hitting record and Gill starting his captaincy stint with a hard-fought win.
The only cloud is the growing injury list, with Pant already out and Sundar now in doubt for the rest of the series. For New Zealand, this was a missed opportunity after setting 300 and then forcing a collapse late in the chase.
Stay tuned to KittoNews for updates, in-depth analysis and ball-by-ball storylines from the rest of the India–New Zealand series.
FAQs
A1: India chased 301 to win by 4 wickets, reaching 306/6 in 49 overs. Virat Kohli top-scored with 93, Shubman Gill made 56 and KL Rahul finished with an unbeaten 29. Earlier, New Zealand posted 300/8 thanks to Daryl Mitchell’s 84, Henry Nicholls’ 62 and Devon Conway’s 56.
A2: Kohli crossed 28,000 international runs, becoming the fastest batter to that mark and rising to second on the all-time run-scorers list behind Sachin Tendulkar. Rohit Sharma became the first player to hit 650 sixes in international cricket, reaching the milestone with his second six of the innings in Vadodara.
