India Edge New Zealand In Thriller/sbkinews.in
Virat Kohli fell heartbreakingly short of his 85th ODI ton with 93, but KL Rahul’s match-winning 45* off 32 balls in the death overs powered India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara’s Kotambi International Stadium, chasing down 338 with four overs to spare.
Kohli’s masterful knock—8 fours and 3 sixes off 85 balls at a strike rate of 109—built the platform after an early wobble, only for NZ captain Michael Bracewell’s stunning low catch at deep mid-wicket to deny the milestone, leaving the 32,000 fans stunned before Rahul’s calculated aggression (5×4, 1×6) turned the tide in a chase that swung wildly.
Shubman Gill’s steady 78 and Suryakumar Yadav’s 52* complemented the effort, as India overcame a middle-order squeeze to clinch a 1-0 series lead, showcasing depth amid Rishabh Pant’s pre-series injury absence.
This high-scoring thriller on a true-bounce Vadodara deck marked the stadium’s international debut, with Kuldeep Yadav’s 3/52 restricting NZ to 337/8 before India’s batting firepower prevailed despite Kohli’s agony.
India Edge New Zealand In Thriller/sbkinews.in
Match Summary: High-Scoring Vadodara Spectacle
New Zealand Innings (337/8, 50 overs): Devon Conway’s 92 (108 balls) and Daryl Mitchell’s 76 (85 balls) anchored a formidable total, with captain Michael Bracewell’s unbeaten 45 off 42 (3×6) providing late fireworks. India’s spinners—Kuldeep Yadav (3/52), Ravindra Jadeja (1/48)—kept control in the middle overs, while Arshdeep Singh’s 2/58 up front added early breakthroughs. The pitch offered true bounce and short square boundaries, favoring batsmen after the 20th over.
India Chase (341/6, 46 overs): Rohit Sharma’s 42 set the tone in a 72/0 powerplay, but NZ clawed back to 125/3 by the 25th. Kohli (93) and Gill (78) rebuilt with a 112-run stand, only for Kohli’s dismissal to spark tension at 280/5. Rahul’s 45* (32 balls, SR 140) and a 58-run burst with SKY (52* off 38) sealed the deal.
Result: India won by 4 wickets (4 ov remaining). MoM: Virat Kohli (93).
India Edge New Zealand In Thriller/sbkinews.in
Kohli’s Near-Miss Masterclass: 93-Run Epic Dissected
Kohli walked in at 42/2 in the 12th over, tasked with stabilizing against NZ’s spin trio. His innings unfolded in phases:
Powerplay Extension (Overs 12-20): 35 off 28 (SR 125)—crisp drives off Boult, a ramped six off Bracewell’s mystery ball.
Middle-Overs Anchor (21-35): 38 off 35 (SR 108)—rotated strike with Gill, reverse-sweeping Santner for boundaries.
Acceleration Burst (36-38.6): 20 off 22 (SR 90)—pulled Ferguson for consecutive fours before the fatal loft.
Shot Breakdown:
| Shot Type | Boundaries | Key Balls Bowled Against |
|---|---|---|
| Cover Drive | 4 | Boult, Southee |
| Lofted Cover | 1×6 | Bracewell |
| Pull/Hook | 2×4 | Ferguson |
| Sweep/Reverse | 1×4 | Santner |
Dismissal agony: 38.6 over, lofts Bracewell to deep mid-wicket—Bracewell dives full-length, pouches low. DRS upholds out. Kohli’s 93: 7th 90+ ODI score, chase avg boosted to 58+.
India Edge New Zealand In Thriller/sbkinews.in
KL Rahul’s Clutch Rescue: Death-Overs Dominance
With India at 280/5 needing 58 off 66 after Kohli’s exit, Rahul—filling Pant’s void as keeper-batter—transformed pressure into poise:
Entry & Build (39-43): 12 off 15—singles with SKY, eyeing spinners.
Explosive Finish (44-46): 33 off 17 (SR 194)—lofted Santhee straight six, carved Southee for 3×4 in 45th over.
Rahul’s 45*: 5×4, 1×6. Stand with SKY: 61* off 42 balls. Post-match: “Virat bhai set it up; had to finish for him.”
Full Scorecard: India vs New Zealand 1st ODI
New Zealand Innings:
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Conway | c Rahul b Arshdeep | 92 | 108 |
| Rachin Ravindra | c Gill b Kuldeep | 34 | 42 |
| Daryl Mitchell | lbw Jadeja | 76 | 85 |
| Michael Bracewell (c) | not out | 45* | 42 |
| Glenn Phillips | c Rohit b Kuldeep | 28 | 25 |
| Extras | 22 | ||
| Total | 337/8 (50 ov, RR 6.74) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-112 (Ravindra), 2-189 (Conway), 3-245 (Mitchell), etc.
India Bowling: Kuldeep 3/52 (10), Arshdeep 2/58 (9), Jadeja 1/48 (10).
India Innings:
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma (c) | c Southee b Ferguson | 42 | 48 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | c Bracewell b Santner | 28 | 35 |
| Shubman Gill (vc) | c Mitchell b Bracewell | 78 | 82 |
| Virat Kohli | c Bracewell b Bracewell | 93 | 85 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | not out | 52* | 38 |
| KL Rahul (wk) | not out | 45* | 32 |
| Total | 341/6 (46 ov, RR 7.41) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-72 (Rohit), 2-125 (Jaiswal), 3-237 (Gill), 4-280 (Kohli), 5-292 (lower order).
NZ Bowling: Bracewell 2/52 (9), Santner 1/60 (10), Ferguson 1/68 (9).
India Edge New Zealand In Thriller/sbkinews.in
Key Turning Points: Thriller’s Pivot Moments
NZ Powerplay (72/0): Conway-Ravindra platform; Arshdeep’s early strikes limited damage.
Kohli-Gill 112 Stand: From 42/2 to 237/3—chase blueprint.
Bracewell Screamer (38.6): 280/4 → tension at 58 needed.
Rahul’s 45th Over Onslaught: 18 runs—decisive shift.
SKY Finish: Ramp six seals.
Kohli’s Form resurgence: VHT To ODI Bridge
Post-Vijay Hazare Trophy (350+ runs @SR145), Kohli’s 93 confirms white-ball return. Vs NZ: 650+ career runs @58 avg. 85th ton drought: Now 1,200+ days.
India Edge New Zealand In Thriller/sbkinews.in
Rahul’s Redemption Arc: Pant Replacement Perfected
Pant hamstring out: Rahul steps up. 45* elevates ODI avg to 53+. Keeping: 2 stumpings, sharp vs pace.
NZ Perspective: Bracewell’s Dual Impact
Captain’s 45* + Kohli catch + 2/52. Spin-heavy attack (Santner econ 6) competes but folds vs India’s depth.
India Edge New Zealand In Thriller/sbkinews.in
Vadodara Debut Magic: Stadium Comes Alive
Kotambi’s first int’l: 32K sellout. Kohli chants peak at 90; Rahul roars finish.
Statistical Spotlights
Highest Partnerships: Kohli-Gill 112 (3rd wicket).
Chase Records: India’s 3rd-highest Vadodara win.
Player Metrics: Kohli SR 109 (chase), Rahul 194 (finish).
India Edge New Zealand In Thriller/sbkinews.in
Social Media Storm: #Virat93 vs #RahulHeroics
10M impressions: Memes of Bracewell “ton thief”; Rahul “silent assassin.” Trends: #INDvNZ, #KohliNearMiss.
Series Outlook: Rajkot Showdown
2nd ODI Jan 14: India 1-0. Kohli redemption? NZ bounce back?
Thrilling opener: Kohli agony, Rahul glory.
