Classy Kohli leads India to crushing win over New Zealand

AUCKLAND: Virat Kohli spearheaded India's five-wicket victory over New Zealand in their opening one-day international at Eden Park on Wednesday. The experienced batsman displayed his timeless skill, scoring a brisk 74 off just 35 balls. In a rain-impacted match, India chased down New Zealand's 185 all out target with 56 balls to spare, securing a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Kohli, who turns 38 on Thursday, demonstrated his class right from the start, dismissing Rohit Sharma for a duck and immediately finding his rhythm on a quick and bouncy pitch. He amassed 13 fours and a six in his 51-ball stay, constantly attacking the short ball. Kohli and Shubman Gill collaborated for a 113-run partnership, with Gill contributing 37 runs off 56 deliveries.

The chase was interrupted twice by rain, once in the 11th over when India were 54-1 and again in the 12th over when they added 10 runs. When Kohli returned for the third time, he accelerated the innings, hitting double digits from the next three overs to clinch the win. Jacob Duffy claimed three wickets for New Zealand. Rain delayed the start of the match by 10 minutes after the toss.

New Zealand struggled, reaching 73-2 in the 14th over despite Will Young and Henry Nicholls falling early. Tim Seifert, replacing Devon Conway who was injured in training, was the highest scorer with 38, mistiming a pull shot. New Zealand's next-best scores were 28 from Daryl Mitchell and 30 from Glenn Phillips, until Blair Tickner's impressive 34 off 23 balls.

Arshdeep Singh took 4-70 from his 10 overs, and Gurnoor Brar took 3-44 in 9.2 overs, as New Zealand were all out for 185 in the 41st over. The second match of the series is scheduled for Saturday in Wellington.