Chasing a target of 301, India appeared to have the upper hand for much of the match, with Kohli and captain Shubman Gill (56) establishing a strong foundation. Yet, the match took a dramatic twist following Kohli’s dismissal in the 40th over, which ignited a brief collapse and gave New Zealand a chance to claw their way back into the game.
Kohli fell just short of what would have been his 54th ODI hundred, departing with India needing 67 runs from 66 balls and seven wickets still in hand. The quick dismissals of Ravindra Jadeja (4) and Shreyas Iyer (49) heightened the tension, but India ultimately crossed the finish line at 306 for six in 49 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
However, KL Rahul (29 not out) contributed crucially, adding 37 runs alongside Harshit Rana (29), while the remaining runs were scored with the injured Washington Sundar (7 not out), aided by a few surprising dropped catches from the Kiwis towards the end.
Kyle Jamieson (4/41) was pivotal in bringing New Zealand back into the contest, dismissing Kohli with a catch at mid-on and denying the Indian star his much-deserved century. He also removed Iyer with an off-cutter and claimed Jadeja’s wicket.
Even though he fell short of a century, Kohli became the fastest player to reach 28,000 runs in international cricket, surpassing Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara and standing second only to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
New Zealand had set a competitive total of 300/8, but with Kohli in such exceptional form, it was never going to be sufficient, particularly with a weakened bowling lineup.
From the moment he came to the crease, Kohli attacked the Kiwis, even though he had refrained from big shots early on against South Africa, unleashing a flurry of boundaries.
His trademark planted front foot produced a majestic on-drive that rolled past the short fine leg for a four.
And if 23-year-old Adithya Ashok was in awe, Kohli quickly dispatched boundaries off the leg-spinner, creating a brisk start.
A streak of luck also played a role; batting at a ‘different level’ by his own admission, Kohli aggressively drove a full delivery from debutant Kristian Clarke, narrowly missing the leg stump with an inside edge.
Kohli and Gill built a solid partnership of 118 runs off 102 balls for the second wicket, tackling the challenge with ease even during a 52-ball boundary drought. Gill ended it by striking one down the ground, almost clearing the ropes.
Indian skipper Gill took time to find his rhythm, eventually notching his 16th half-century in ODIs, but as the innings wore on, he seemed to struggle, possibly due to cramps. After stretching, he called for the team physiotherapist for some on-field assistance.
However, the delay seemed to disrupt the momentum, as Gill, facing a googly from rookie leg-spinner Adithya, carelessly hit it to mid-off, departing with a solid 71-ball 56 that featured three fours and two sixes.
The right-handed opener, who had missed most of the home series against South Africa, would be pleased with his performance, which included a spectacular straight drive and a powerful sweep for six over deep square leg.
The chase began cautiously, but Rohit Sharma (26) soon took charge as Gill remained unassertive early on. Rohit capitalized on a wide ball for a four past point, then cleared square leg, and finally danced down the pitch to hit Jamieson over mid-on, marking his 650th six in international cricket.
However, Jamieson managed to catch Rohit out, who had moved away from the wickets to clear the infield; his bat twisted upon contact, leading to his dismissal in the ninth over.
Earlier, Daryl Mitchell anchored his side with a flamboyant half-century, helping New Zealand post 300 for eight.
Mitchell, ranked world No. 3 behind Indian superstars Kohli and Rohit, showcased his mettle with a resilient knock that provided New Zealand with much-needed momentum amid a shaky middle order.
Mitchell smashed five fours and three sixes to score 84 off 71 balls after the New Zealand middle order struggled to sustain the solid start provided by Devon Conway (56 off 67 balls; 6 fours, 1 six) and Henry Nicholls (62 off 69 balls; 8 fours).
Openers Conway and Nicholls had constructed a 117-run partnership to frustrate India for the first 21 overs, but Harshit Rana’s (2/65) second spell of 2-0-13-2 turned the tide as the home side picked up regular wickets.
New Zealand stumbled from 117 for no loss in the 22nd over to 198 for five by the 38th. Nevertheless, Mitchell forged significant partnerships to rescue the innings, while debutant Kristian Clarke struck three late boundaries to finish with 17-ball 24 not out.
(With PTI inputs)
