New Zealand and India clashed in the first ODI of the five-match series on November 4, 2026, at Eden Park in Auckland. India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl first on the bouncy track in Auckland.
Before the match started, both the teams were seen assembling for the national anthems. In several videos shared on social media, Virat Kohli can be seen singing the Indian national anthem “Jana Gana Mana”. It was a very rare occasion in which Virat Kohli’s voice was heard singing the Indian national anthem.
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Meanwhile, New Zealand were dismissed for 185 in 40.2 overs, as Tim Seifert (38), Daryl Mitchell (28) and Glenn Phillips (30) all chipped in with useful scores. Blair Tickner's rapid 34 from 23 balls, which featured four sixes, aided their recovery from 146/9. Arshdeep Singh picked up four wickets for India, Gurnoor Brar claimed three, and Anshul Kamboj ended with impressive figures of 2/22 from 10 overs.
India lost Rohit Sharma for a duck, but a 113-run stand between Shubman Gill (37) and Virat Kohli (74 off 51 balls) helped them recover. Rain interruptions adjusted India's target to 143 in 32 overs, and they reached it in 22.4 overs to win by five wickets. India went 1-0 up in the five-match series, with Anshul Kamboj named Player of the Match.
