@Virat kohli playing a shot during his innings of 93 runs vs New Zealand at Vadodara 2026
India Beats New Zealand by 4 Wickets- Thrilling Chase in ODI on 11 January 2026
On 11 January 2026 It was an exciting and thrilling performance by the Indian men's cricket team beat New Zealand by 4 wickets in the first of three One-Day International (ODI) series , in the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, at Vadodara. The grit, strategy, and vital individual performances, in particular, of Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, to chase a 301-run target successfully, established an exciting battle at the start of the international season.
Match Situation: Match Previews and Anticipations.
This was the first ODI in the series between India and New Zealand, the two competitive teams that have a rich history in cricketing. As the two sides sought to establish dominance in the early part of 2026, the game had significance both in terms of momentum in the series but also in terms of demonstrating a depth of the squad, especially on the part of India, in terms of testing blends as it prepared to face global challenges in the near future.
The pitch at Vadodara was supposed to be batters friendly with regular bounce, which was in effect in both innings. The ability to win the toss was important since the batting team had the ability to establish a formidable target in this batting-friendly surface.
New Zealand Innings: Making a Demanding Target
In winning the toss, India chose to field, which is based on the fact that there are better evening conditions to be exploited and the intention to chase in the evening. New Zealand also took the first mover advantage and prepared a competitive score of 300/8 within their 50 overs.
The Kiwi innings were marked by a number of performance-laden hits:
- Daryl Mitchell was the main attacker with an inspirational 84 off 71 balls, with an aggressive shot selection coupled with smartness on the choice of shots to get the Indians to fuss.
- Henry Nicholls brought good stability with 62 runs that ensured that New Zealand was steadied after initial hitches especially at the start of the innings.
- Devon Conway at the top of the order scored 56, which gave the order impetus in the beginning and guaranteed consistent pressure on the scoreboard.
The contributions of the top and middle order were balanced in the innings of New Zealand. Although the signs of less-than-elite resistance were occasional, none of them were of equal magnitude to that of the major bestsellers. They had a total of 300, which was a good one, - but competitive, just, on this batting surface.
for India, the bowlers such as Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna helped in taking invaluable wickets to make sure that New Zealand does not take over the innings.
India' Chase: Dominance, and a Nervy Finish in India
Chasing 301 runs is not an easy one to pursue, but India was self-assured in reaching the target. Their batting lineup, at the very beginning, displayed the use of aggression and control.
The Indian innings got off to a solid start:
- Rohit Sharma also played a quick 26 off 29 balls which gave strength and momentum to the first few overs.
- Shubman Gill anchoring at the top played magnificant role with 56 runs who stabilized the pursuit and formed important partnership.
But the best performer was Virat Kohli who once again displayed his class and strength. Kohli made a breathtaking 93 out of 91 balls, with 8 fours and one six, to lead the chase and keep India far ahead of the necessary pace throughout most of the game.
However,the maginificant (93 runs off 91 balls) knock came from Kohli was a combination of timing, handling of intensity, and pressure. At other levels of the chase, he accelerated the team and made sure that there was no serious reduction in pace. There was a time when the union between Kohli and Gill produced more than 118 runs, without which India would not have remained on top of the graph in the pursuit.
yet, at a point when the victory appeared to be on the verge of being settled, New Zealand bowlers, particularly, Kyle Jamieson, provided tension to the match once again, in the form of late wickets. Jamieson collected four vital wickets, one of them being the dismissal of Kohli and gave the New Zealand hope of a comeback.
When at one stage India required 59 runs in 53 balls, the pressure was mounting, and it demonstrated that even the strong chases are not so stable until the last run is scored.
KL Rahul and the Victory Finish:
KL Rahul was playing a calm and important finishing role as a part of this late struggle. Unbeaten 29 off 21 balls, Rahul did not need to hit the ball that far, but did it with a powerful six to demand the finale, which was a great ending of an exciting pursuit. His cameo was more about runs than temperament and doing it in match-defining circumstances.
As India finished this final blow, they were through the hunt at 306/6 in 49 overs and had an extra over to spare and a lead of 1-0 in the series.
Individual Performances and Awards:
Virat Kohli was rightfully awarded the Player of the Match as his brilliant 93 was significant towards the setting up of the chase and keeping India ahead at all times. He could control different bowling attacks, turn the strike side and side and hold the intensity and this was the core of the success of India.
Other distinguished performers were:
- Shubman Gill, whose 56 was the precursor.
- KL Rahul whose late innings guaranteed the tactical completion.
- Daryl Mitchell and Henry Nicholls because of their great input during the New Zealand innings.
StrategicTakeaways and What It Means ahead of the Series:
Their strengths in terms of batting depth, pressure flexibility and the ability to rotate partnerships were demonstrated during the successful chase in India. Although there were some late hiccups, it is remarkable how this team withstood them, particularly in controlling the target rate and dealing with the challenges of bowling by New Zealand.
for New Zealand, the game showed aspects of strategy improvement. They had a good overall score, and they had some runs on the board in bowling but they were unable to get the full pressure out of Indian indecisiveness at the latter stage. Their skill to return the ball enabled them to continue the game and highlight the descriptive nature of the New Zealand competitive spirit.
Final Thoughts:
On 11 January 2026, in what was a well-played ODI, the spectators at the cricket world were witness to a match full of skill, will and intrigue. The 4 wicket victory of India over New Zealand was not merely a win on the scoreboard but a statement of intent, a performance of batting mastership, and a rejection of how exciting limited-overs cricket can be.
As the series is already on, this game will be remembered as a traditional hunt, with huge totals, tactical bowling, the moments of tension, and the final victory,
Brief scores: New Zealand 300/8 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 84, Henry Nicholls 62; Mohammed Siraj 2/40) lost to India 306/6 in 49 overs (Virat Kohli 93, Shubman Gill 56; Kyle Jamieson 4/41) by 4 wickets.