India edged out New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling first One-Day International at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11, 2026. KL Rahul's unbeaten 29 off just 21 balls, featuring calm and composed finishing, proved decisive in the penultimate over as the hosts chased down a challenging target despite a late collapse triggered by the dismissal of Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli played a masterful knock of 93 before falling agonisingly short of what would have been his 85th international century. His innings was the cornerstone of India's chase, but his departure caused a brief loss of momentum. Earlier in the match, Kohli achieved a significant milestone by becoming the fastest player to reach 28,000 international runs, accomplishing the feat in his 624th innings—20 fewer than the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Shubman Gill provided solid support with a fluent 56, while Shreyas Iyer chipped in with a valuable 49, setting the platform for the lower order to finish the job.

New Zealand posted a competitive total of 300 for 8 after opting to bat first. Despite disciplined opening spells from pacers Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj, the visitors found momentum through a counter-attacking half-century by Daryl Mitchell, who smashed 84 off 71 balls. Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway also contributed fifties, helping the Black Caps recover from early pressure and build a substantial total that kept the contest alive until the final overs.

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The chase saw India lose early wickets but regroup effectively through partnerships involving Gill, Kohli, and Iyer. However, Kohli's dismissal for 93 injected tension into the innings, with New Zealand sensing an opportunity to defend their total. Rahul's arrival at the crease shifted the momentum once again, as he combined aggression with composure to steer India home with balls to spare.

The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series and highlights the depth in the Indian batting lineup. Kohli's record-breaking achievement and Rahul's finishing prowess were the standout moments, while New Zealand will look to bounce back in the second ODI. The result underscores India's strong home record in limited-overs cricket and sets the stage for an exciting contest ahead in the series.

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