India secured a nail-biting four-wicket victory in the first One Day International against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday night, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The win was orchestrated by a majestic knock from Virat Kohli and a brilliant finishing act from KL Rahul and Harshit Rana after a dramatic middle-order collapse threatened to derail the chase of 301.
Kohli's Masterclass and a Sudden Collapse
Chasing a competitive target of 301, India's innings was built around a regal 93 off 91 balls from Virat Kohli. He forged a solid 118-run partnership for the second wicket with captain Shubman Gill, who scored 56, and then added 77 runs with Shreyas Iyer (47). At 234 for 2 in the 40th over, India seemed to be cruising towards a comfortable win.
However, New Zealand's tall pacer Kyle Jamieson triggered a stunning collapse, taking a career-best 4 for 41. He removed Rohit Sharma (26), Kohli, Iyer, and Ravindra Jadeja (4) in quick succession, plunging India from a position of strength to a precarious 264 for 6.
The Lower-Order Heroes Seal the Win
With the match hanging in the balance, Harshit Rana (29 off 23 balls) played a crucial counter-attacking innings. He took the pressure off KL Rahul by striking vital boundaries during their 37-run stand for the sixth wicket. New Zealand compounded their problems by dropping catches of both Rana and Washington Sundar in the tense final stages.
Ultimately, it was KL Rahul (29 not out off 21 balls) who held his nerve to finish the game. Showing impeccable composure, he struck a scoop and a booming cover drive for fours before sealing the win with a six over deep mid-wicket off debutant pacer Kristian Clarke on the last ball of the 49th over. Rahul and Sundar (7 not out) added an unbroken 27 runs for the seventh wicket to see India home. Sundar bravely batted despite suffering a side strain.
New Zealand's Innings: Mitchell Shines Again
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, New Zealand posted 300 for 8, largely thanks to another superb performance against India from Daryl Mitchell. The world's No. 3 ranked ODI batter smashed a sublime 84 off 71 balls, including five fours and three sixes, rescuing his side from a middle-order slump.
The Kiwis had a perfect start with openers Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62) putting on a 117-run stand. However, they slid to 239 for 7 before Mitchell's effort propelled them to 300. For India, pacer Harshit Rana's second spell, where he took two wickets in two overs, was instrumental in the fightback. Shreyas Iyer, playing his first match after a three-month injury layoff, also impressed with a direct-hit run-out to dismiss Michael Bracewell.
The teams now head to Rajkot for the second ODI, scheduled for January 14, with India holding a vital advantage in the series.
