Virat Kohli, bowlers help India beat New Zealand by 5 wickets in rain-curtailed 1st ODI

New Delhi: Shubman Gill-led India defeated New Zealand by five wickets in the rain-affected 1st ODI at Eden Park in Auckland to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. India rode on a brilliant combined effort from the bowlers and a 74-run knock from to register a clinical victory and get off to a winning start in the ODI leg of their New Zealand tour.

The pace trio of Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Anshul Kamboj shone with the ball after India won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat first in the game. The trio ran riot and picked up nine wickets between them to bundle out the Kiwis for a paltry 185 runs in 40.2 overs.

In reply, India rode on Kohli’s 74 and skipper Gill’s 34 off 56 balls to chase down the revised target of 143 runs in 22.4 overs after rain interrupted the proceedings twice during the game. Kohli and Gill joined hands after Rohit Sharma’s early departure to help India get over the line comfortably.

More to follow…