HIGHLIGHTS India vs New Zealand, New Zealand in India 3 ODI Series 2026, 1st ODI- Result, Scorecard

The floodlights are gradually switching on in Vadodara, and we are all set for India's reply with the bat to get underway. The Kiwis spread out of the team huddle and take their respective fielding positions. Rohit Sharma and skipper Shubman Gill walk out to the crease as India's opening pair. Kyle Jamieson, the tall, lanky, right-arm seamer, will get the chase underway with the new ball. Two slips in place. Rohit to face. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

On a black-soil pitch, the expectation was for the spinners to have a bigger impact, but it was the seamers who did most of the damage. Only one wicket fell to spin, with Kuldeep Yadav being the lone success, while India’s three quicks shared six wickets evenly between them. It highlighted how difficult it was for the batters to line up the off-pace deliveries and balls bowled into the surface, something New Zealand will look to replicate with the ball. That said, if the dew stays away, the pitch could slow down further, bringing the Kiwi spinners into play. India, with their world-class batting line-up, will back themselves to chase this down, but as always, the BlackCaps are unlikely to go quietly and will throw everything at it to make a real contest of this game. Join us in a bit for the second essay.

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell is up for a quick chat with the broadcasters. He says he is delighted to get past 300, as this gives them something to bowl at. Mentions that it is going to be an exciting evening if they manage to pick up early wickets. While admitting that the team always wants more, he also underlines that although a couple of wickets fell in the middle, the partnerships they built were crucial. Posting 300 on a slower wicket, he says, is a pleasing effort. Looking ahead to the bowling, Mitchell stresses the importance of bringing energy in the field and seeing what they can do with the ball. He points out that once the ball is changed around the 34-over mark, it becomes much softer and harder to hit, calling it one of the key challenges of modern ODI cricket, as teams try to maximise whatever they can. On his LBW review in the backend, he jokes that it was probably more wishful thinking than anything else. He adds that clarity in plans will be vital, knowing how the opposition is likely to approach the chase. Mitchell also highlights how valuable it is for the younger players to experience playing in India for the first time, saying there is no better place to do that in front of a packed stadium full of blue. Ends by hoping that they can make a strong start.

Harshit Rana dragged India back into the contest with an inspired second spell, removing both set openers and triggering a dramatic collapse. In the space of a few overs, New Zealand slipped from 117/0 to 146/3, and then to 198/5, as the middle order showed intent but failed to convert their starts, losing wickets at regular intervals. Daryl Mitchell stood firm at one end despite the chaos around him, anchoring the innings alongside skipper Michael Bracewell. But once the latter fell to some exceptional athleticism from Shreyas Iyer in the field, Mitchell was forced to change gears. He did so effectively, bringing up a well-crafted half-century, but his dismissal for 84 in the final phase meant New Zealand missed a late surge. Still, a valuable cameo from the debutant, Kristian Clarke, in the closing overs lifted them to the 300 mark, giving their bowlers something to bowl at.

The Kiwi openers began with a cautious approach, taking time to assess the conditions, and it worked well for them, with Henry Nicholls getting an early reprieve on 4 from Kuldeep Yadav. Once he and Devon Conway settled in and got a feel for the surface, they shifted gears and started playing with freedom, looking completely at ease at the crease. The bowlers were given little to work with as the runs flowed at a healthy rate. Both batters brought up well-earned fifties and raised the 100-run stand in the 20th over. Their opening partnership of 117 looked unbreakable for a while before the momentum swung dramatically in the space of a couple of overs.

New Zealand have managed to reach the 300-run mark, a solid batting effort, though they will feel they left a few runs out there after the start they enjoyed. At one stage, even 300 looked a distant prospect, but they showed resilience to grind their way to the total. While it appears a strong score on paper, India will not be overly concerned, especially with the dew expected to play a significant role in the second innings.

Prasidh Krishna to Kristian Clarke, Prasidh angles it into the batter on a good length, Kristian Clarke makes room and heaves it into the deep square leg and deep fine leg gap. Ravindra Jadeja gets across to his left and cuts it off, but the batters run for a couple. The throw from Jadeja is a bit wide of the keeper, and Jamieson looks to take the third, but Kristian has run far at the other end, so, they settle with a couple only. 14 runs off the final over. NEW ZEALAND FINISH EXACTLY AT 300/8!

Prasidh Krishna to Kyle Jamieson, Hard length and outside off. Jamieson heaves it to widish mid on for a single.

Prasidh Krishna to Kyle Jamieson, FOUR! Important runs these for New Zealand! Attempts for a yorker, but misses by a margin, on the leg stump line and it tails in a bit. Kyle Jamieson clears the front leg and drills it to the right of mid on and finds the fence.

Prasidh Krishna to Kristian Clarke, Up in the air... lands safely! And an outstanding run between the wickets. Slower length ball, outside off. Kristian Clarke mistimes his slash over cover and point and lands in the vacant real estate in the deep point region. Mohammed Siraj is a bit slow to get to the ball from the inner ring and that allows the batters an extra room to pinch in the third run.

Prasidh Krishna to Kristian Clarke, EDGED, FOUR! New Zealand will take it no matter how the runs come! An attempted yorker, on off, Kristian Clarke shapes up to drill that through cover, but gets a fat outside edge. There's no one in the deep third region and the ball races away to the fence.

Prasidh Krishna to Kristian Clarke, Skids through from a length, nipping back in and over middle, Kristian Clarke leans back to play the ramp shot, but the ball fizzes over his angled bat.

Last over coming up now. Can New Zealand somehow manage to get to 300?

Harshit Rana to Kyle Jamieson, Slower length ball that jags back in from middle. Kyle Jamieson gets on the back foot and mistimes his heave off the inner half. The ball rolls to the left of deep fine leg and they hustle back for the second run.

Harshit Rana to Kristian Clarke, Pinpoint yorker, on middle, Kristian Clarke backs away to give himself room and squeezes it through point for a single.

Harshit Rana to Kyle Jamieson, Pace off, short and wide on off, Kyle Jamieson swings across to pull, but gets an inside edge and the ball bounces past the stumps to the left of the keeper for a single.

Harshit Rana to Kyle Jamieson, Executes another yorker, in front of the sticks. Kyle Jamieson gets a bit of an underedge while trying to carve it out and the ball rolls back to Harshit.

Harshit Rana to Kyle Jamieson, A yorker, on middle, Kyle drills it back to the bowler. Harshit dives on his follow-through to his right and half-stops it with his right hand.

Harshit Rana to Kristian Clarke, Full and wide outside off, Kristian Clarke shuffles across to scoop, but gets an inside edge and the ball rolls through square leg for a single.

Prasidh Krishna to Kyle Jamieson, Pace on, full and around off, Kyle Jamieson forces the drive to extra cover.

Prasidh Krishna to Kyle Jamieson, A yorker that tails in on middle, Kyle Jamieson jams the bat down and digs it out straight.

Kyle Jamieson comes out to the middle now.

Prasidh Krishna to Daryl Mitchell, OUT! LBW! Krishna with a massive wicket in the backend. This is full and straight, in line of the stumps, slightly nipping back into the batter. Daryl Mitchell tries to smoke it over long on by clearing his front leg, but swings over the line and wears it on the back pad. A big appeal for LBW, and up goes the finger. Daryl Mitchell goes upstairs straightaway and takes a review. There is a daylight gap between bat and the ball and Ball Tracking shows three reds with the ball projected to crash in the leg stump. A fine, fine knock from Daryl Mitchell. Wickets kept falling around him, but he held his ground. 84 off 71 from him. New Zealand are 281/8.

Prasidh Krishna to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR MORE! Off the top edge! At 127.8 kph, this is short and over the shoulders, Daryl Mitchell tries to pull, tries to play it a bit fine, but gets it off the top edge and the ball races away to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Prasidh Krishna to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! KABOOM! The floodgates are opened. Slower one by the looks of it, short and just outside off. Daryl Mitchell sits back and opens the front leg to create room before nailing the pull shot over deep mid-wicket for a cracking six.

Prasidh Krishna to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Clever, very clever! Pace from 'Skiddy', full at 136.6 kph, on the stumps. Daryl Mitchell shuffles a long way across off and just scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary.

Prasidh Krishna (7-0-36-1) comes back into the attack now.

Harshit Rana to Kristian Clarke, FOUR! Excellent placement! Harshit is fuming at the fielder for not reacting quickly to that shot. Slower ball, wide outside off, on a good length. Kristian Clarke waits for it and uses his wrists to steer it to the right of short third. It has enough wheels on it to beat the deep point fielder to his left to hug the fence.

Harshit Rana to Kristian Clarke, Deceptive slower ball, short and outside off, Clarke tries to drag it across with a pull shot, but he swings the bat in January and the ball arrives in December to beat his bat.

Harshit Rana to Kristian Clarke, Shoots in a sharp bumper, angled on the bodyline, Kristian Clarke ducks underneath it as the ball fizzes through to the keeper. First bounce signalled by the umpire.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, Around the pads, on a fuller length, Daryl Mitchell steers it to deep square leg for a single.

Harshit Rana to Kristian Clarke, Full and around off, Kristian Clarke carves it off the middle to the left of mid off, where Ravindra Jadeja dives to his left and stops it. Just a single. But that was travelling.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, At just 116.3 kph, this is bashed on a length, outside off, Daryl Mitchell slashes it away to deep point for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, Rolls his fingers on the rock, and bowls it short on middle. Daryl Mitchell climbs on it, uses all his might to pull, but mistimes it over square leg. Nitish Kumar Reddy from deep fine leg rushes to his left and stops it on a couple of bounces. Just a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Kristian Clarke, Short again, at shoulder height, on leg, Kristian Clarke hangs back and pulls it a bit squarer to deep fine leg for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, At 127.3 kph, this is short and outside off, Daryl Mitchell uppercuts it over backward point for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! That has travelled a mile! A juicy half volley from Siraj, on middle and leg, Daryl Mitchell gets the front leg out of his way and launches it cleanly over long on for a massive six.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, Slower short ball, over off, Daryl Mitchell is deceived by the lack of pace and gets beaten on the pull shot. The ball dips on Rahul behind the stumps, but he gathers it low by diving to his left.

Mohammed Siraj to Kristian Clarke, Short and slow, on top of middle, glanced off the back foot to long leg for a single.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, Low full toss around off, Daryl Mitchell drives it wide of sweeper cover for a couple of runs. 250 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, BUMP BALL! Harshit Rana bowls this in the blockhole, on off, Daryl Mitchell tries to dig it out but gets an inside edge onto his pads. It lobs up towards the bowler, where Harshit Rana grabs it and appeals for it. It has been sent upstairs and the replay shows that the ball bounced before hitting the pads.

An umpire's review for a catch. They just want to have a look at whether the ball bumped on the ground, before lobbing off Daryl's boot towards Rana. The replay clearly shows that the ball bumped before. NOT OUT.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, WIDE! Slower bouncer again and around off, just a bit too high. Daryl Mitchell shuffles across to scoop it away but misses. Called a wide but Rana is not happy with that decision.

Harshit Rana to Kristian Clarke, Back of a length and around leg, Kristian Clarke hooks it towards deep backward square leg for a run.

Harshit Rana to Kristian Clarke, On a length and on off, Kristian Clarke blocks it out.

Harshit Rana to Kristian Clarke, FOUR! Fine shot! Fuller delivery and on off, Kristian Clarke shows the full face of the bat and drives it with excellent timing wide of mid off. Ravindra Jadeja is a bit late to move to his left as he does not expect it to be timed that well. He dives over to let it through for a boundary. You do not expect that from Jaddu.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, Low full toss, on middle, Daryl Mitchell tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Kristian Clarke, A good bouncer now, on middle, Kristian Clarke ducks under it. Just 4 runs and a wicket off the over then.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, Back of a length and on middle, Daryl Mitchell heaves it through square leg for one.

Mohammed Siraj to Kristian Clarke, Fuller and on middle, Kristian Clarke flicks it away to deep square leg to get his MAIDEN ODI RUN.

Another one bites the dust. The debutant, Kristian Clarke, walks in at number 9.

Mohammed Siraj to Zakary Foulkes, OUT! DRAGGED ON! Wickets continue to tumble for New Zealand as Mohammed Siraj gets his second now. Good-length delivery, on off, nips back in a bit. Zakary Foulkes stays back and tries to guide it very late, but this is too close to his body. He ends up getting an inside edge and the ball rattles the stumps behind. New Zealand are 239/7, and are losing their way a little here as they were 198/4 at one stage.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, Short of a length and on middle, takes pace off, Daryl Mitchell pulls it to deep square leg for a run.

Mohammed Siraj to Zakary Foulkes, On a length and around off, Zakary Foulkes guides it to third man for a single.

And again, just when the partnership looked to be threatening the hosts, a wicket falls. The crease has a new occupant in the form of Zakary Foulkes at number 8. Mohammed Siraj (6-0-26-1) is back on.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, OUT! MICHAEL BRACEWELL IS RUN OUT! A superb piece of fielding from Shreyas Iyer and a timely wicket for India. Harshit Rana bowls this in the blockhole, on middle, Daryl Mitchell jams it out towards long on, and calls for the second run. However, Shreyas Iyer is quick to run forward, picks it up with one hand and hits the bullseye at the bowler's end, with Michael Bracewell struggling to make his ground while completing the second run. He does not look that confident, and the replay shows that he is short of his crease. The Kiwi skipper goes back for 16 off 18, and New Zealand are 237/6 now.

Harshit Rana to Michael Bracewell, Pitched up and around off, Michael Bracewell drives it away to sweeper cover for a run.

Harshit Rana to Michael Bracewell, FOUR! Powered away! Harshit Rana goes fuller and on off, gives no pace at all. Michael Bracewell reads it early, extends his arms and thumps it past the bowler, to the long off fence for a boundary.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, On a length and on middle, Daryl Mitchell clips it through mid-wicket for a run.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, WIDE! Tries the slower bouncer, on middle, but this goes a bit too high. Daryl Mitchell hops up and tries to upper cut but misses. Called a wide. Mitchell does a sarcastic jump to taunt Rana here. Getting a bit feisty here.

Harshit Rana to Michael Bracewell, Back of a length and around off, slower again, Michael Bracewell punches it to long off for a run.

Harshit Rana to Daryl Mitchell, Slower delivery, full and on middle, Daryl Mitchell drills it past the bowler and to the right of long off for a single. Harshit Rana stands in the way of Mitchell while he is completing the run, and there is a heated exchange of words between the two.

Harsha Bhogle on air informs that Washington Sundar has sprained his back while bowling his fifth over. His injury is being monitored right now. Harshit Rana (6-0-34-2) is back on, replacing Kuldeep Yadav.

Prasidh Krishna to Daryl Mitchell, A loopy slower ball, around off, dips in too. Devon Conway waits for an eternity before dragging it off the inner half of the bat to long on for one more.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Hard length and just outside off, angling away, Michael Bracewell reaches out and toe-ends it to long off for another run.

Prasidh Krishna to Daryl Mitchell, Shot of a length and around middle, Daryl Mitchell pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Right in the blockhole, on middle and leg. Michael Bracewell just about gets some bat on it to tuck it through square leg for a single.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Back of a length and angling into the body of the batter. Michael Bracewell tries to pull it away but misses and gets hit on the thigh pads. It drops to the leg side, and he wants the run but is sent back.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Hard length and on off, nips back in, Michael Bracewell tries to cut but gets a bottom edge behind to the right of the keeper.

Kuldeep Yadav to Michael Bracewell, Flatter, full and on middle, Michael Bracewell works it to long on for one.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, FIFTY FOR DARYL MITCHELL! Off just 51 deliveries. A fine, well-compiled knock from him and he gets to his 12th ODI half-century, and he has not looked troubled. Looped up, full and outside off, Daryl Mitchell reaches out and drills it to sweeper cover for a single. 119, 44, 56*, 78*, 43 - these are his last five ODI scores before this knock. Not a cent of doubt about his outstanding form of late.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Drops it short and around off, Daryl Mitchell punches it to extra cover.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! Into the stands! Tossed up, full and on middle, turns in a bit. Daryl Mitchell clears his front leg away and launches it with the spin over the long on fence for a biggie.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Flighted, full and outside off, Daryl Mitchell reaches out a bit and slices it towards deep point for a couple of runs.

Kuldeep Yadav to Michael Bracewell, Floated, short and around leg, Michael Bracewell flicks it off the back foot through square leg for a single.

Powerplay 3! Now five fielders are allowed outside the inner ring till the last over. New Zealand have just slowed down a bit in the last few overs, but they will want to finish well here and get something near 300, if not more than that. India's job will be to stop them from doing that. Also, here is Kuldeep Yadav. He is 8-0-42-1 so far.

Prasidh Krishna to Daryl Mitchell, At 140.1 kph, this is lasered in as a yorker, on off, Daryl Mitchell shovels it out but gets a thick inside edge onto his boot before the ball rolls back to Prasidh.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Slants it into the batter, on a length, Michael Bracewell stays leg side of the ball and steers it away to deep backward point for a single.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Much fuller, and straighter, on off, Michael Bracewell gets on the front foot and carves it away to mid off.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Slower one again, into the pitch, Michael Bracewell steps down the track and pulls it behind square on the leg side for a couple of runs.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Pitched on a length, a slower one angling in and around off, Michael Bracewell bunts it back to the bowler.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Slightly full and around off, Michael pushes at the delivery, and gets it off the inner half to mid-wicket.

Ravindra Jadeja to Michael Bracewell, In front of the sticks, full in length, Bracwell goes back and nudges it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Short in length, Daryl Mitchell goes on the back foot and drags it across with a pull shot, to the left of long on for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, WIDE! Miles outside off, beyond the tramline. Left alone.

Ravindra Jadeja to Michael Bracewell, On the pads, touch full, steered off the front foot to backward square leg for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Short, outside off, Mitchell cuts it off the back foot to deep point for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! A bit agricultural! He dances down the track and heaves this length ball off the inner half of the bat, but clears mid-wicket for a boundary.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Not too full, around off, Daryl steers it to Rohit's right at backward point and rushes for a single. Rohit gets rid of the ball quickly and flatly throws it to the bowler's end, but misses his shy.

Prasidh Krishna to Daryl Mitchell, Almost a yorker, off, Daryl Mitchell digs it out through wide mid on for a single. 200 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Short of a good length, on top of middle, Michael Bracewell hangs back and nudges it through backward square leg for a single.

Prasidh Krishna to Michael Bracewell, Straight and full, on off, Bracewell forces the drive to mid off.

Skipper Michael Bracewell comes out to the middle now with his side in a slight spot of bother.

Prasidh Krishna to Mitchell Hay, OUT! BOWLED! A corker of a delivery and Krishna bags his first wicket. He spears one on a good length, bashing the surface hard. The ball skids and nips back in sharply off the seam. Mitchell Hay gets squared up and plays all over it, getting beaten on the inside edge trying to block. The ball sneaks through the gap between bat and pad and clips the top of middle and off stumps. Mitchell Hay got a start, but couldn't cash on it. 18 (13) from him. New Zealand are 198/5.

Prasidh Krishna to Daryl Mitchell, Nails in a yorker that tails in on middle, Daryl Mitchell tries to shovel it away with a flick, but gets it off the inside edge to the left of short fine leg. Harshit Rana moves across and slides to stop it. A single taken.

Prasidh Krishna to Mitchell Hay, Around off, on a good length, Daryl hangs back, plays it late and steers it to deep backward point for a single.

Prasidh Krishna (4-0-21-0) is back on. Also, looks like Mitchell Hay is feeling the heat a bit, and the 12th man comes in with a towel. He also gets some fluids in to go again.

Ravindra Jadeja to Mitchell Hay, Full and outside off, Mitchell Hay leans on and drills it past the diving extra cover fielder to his right for a single. 10 runs off the over. 8-0-47-0 are Jadeja's bowling figures so far.

Ravindra Jadeja to Mitchell Hay, FOUR! Quick hands! Pushed quicker on a shorter length, on middle, asking for trouble. Mitchell Hay picks the length in a trice, rocks back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Ravindra Jadeja to Mitchell Hay, Nice and full, on middle and leg, pushed back to Jadeja off the front foot.

Ravindra Jadeja to Mitchell Hay, FOUR! Off the edge! Short and flat, outside off, Mitchell Hay is rushed on the back foot and tries to cut it late, but gets a fat outside edge and there's not a single soul in that region which helps the ball to race away to the deep third fence.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, On middle, on a fullish length, Daryl Mitchell flicks off his pads to deep square leg for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Flat and touch full, on off, Daryl blocks it off the back foot.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Short, on the stumps, nicely punched off the back foot to long on for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mitchell Hay, Good running between the wickets! Much fuller from Kuldeep, on the leg stump line. Mitchell Hay gets across and paddles it fine to deep fine leg. By the time Nitish Kumar Reddy cuts it off to his right from deep square leg, they cross each other thrice.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Slowish delivery, short on the leg stump, Daryl Mitchell uses his wrists to nudge it to deep backward square leg for a single. Another 30-plus score for Daryl.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Not too short, but Mitchell goes back and tucks it back to the bowler's right.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mitchell Hay, He draws his front foot out and drills this full ball through mid off for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mitchell Hay, Spins back in from off, on a length. Mitchell Hay goes back and taps it back to the bowler using soft hands.

Ravindra Jadeja to Mitchell Hay, Short and on the leg stump, Hay gets on the back foot and works it to long on for one more.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, On middle and full, swept away to deep square leg for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Again, Daryl sweeps this full ball, dragging it from outside off, in front of square for two more as Krishna slides to intercept. Krishna's knee gets plugged into the outfield, but he manages to stop it.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, On middle and off, on a length, Daryl Mitchell gets down on a knee and sweeps it to deep mid-wicket. Prasidh Krishna runs to his left from deep square leg and cuts it off. Two taken.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Drags the length by a yard, on middle, Daryl Mitchell rocks back and knocks it back to Jadeja.

Ravindra Jadeja to Mitchell Hay, Serves it full, on off, Hay drives it along the ground to long off for a single.

India have picked up their preferred ball out of the two that will be bowled for the next 16 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mitchell Hay, Full and outside off, Mitchell Hay drives it to deep extra cover for a single. A successful over for Kuldeep and India.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Looped up at 82 kph, around off, driven off the front foot to wide long off for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Drags the length back, on middle, bunted off the back foot to the bowler.

Kuldeep Yadav to Mitchell Hay, Hay is off the mark! Full and pushed through, on off, Hay drives it away to long off for a single.

Mitchell Hay walks out to bat now.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, OUT! CHIPPED STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! The partnership was brewing nicely between these two but has been brought to a halt by Kuldeep, who gets his first wicket. Floated around off, on a fuller length, Glenn Phillips gets sucked into the shot. He pushes at the delivery with hard hands, but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. His bat gets dragged in front of his pads as he looks to drive it through cover, but gets a thick outside edge. The ball is chipped towards Shreyas Iyer stationed at backward point for an easy catch. Glenn Phillips admonishes himself on the way to the dressing room. 12 (19) for GP and New Zealand are 170/4.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Fraction fuller, on off, Glenn Phillips rushes back and nudges it to mid-wicket.

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, Shortish delivery, on the stumps, Glenn Phillips uses the depth of the crease and punches it across to long on for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, Just holds on the surface, on a length, outside off, GP covers the line and knocks it on the bounce to Jadeja.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Full and at 96.6 kph, on middle, Daryl Mitchell dances down the track and heaves it off the inner half to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Flat and quick, on middle, Daryl Mitchell nudges it to cover.

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, Full and slower through the air, at 87.8 kph, Glenn Phillips gets forward and drives it to deep extra cover for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Off break, full and around off, Daryl carves it away to deep point for a single.

DRINKS! India have pulled things back nicely in the 21-30 over phase, picking up 3 wickets and also putting a check on the runs. They will want to get in a few more cheap overs and keep the pressure on the batters to try and take a few risks. New Zealand need to rebuild a bit, and Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips are trying to do exactly that, but they also do not want to let the excellent start by the openers go to waste. If the Kiwis bat well here, they can be thinking of getting something over 300, which will not be easy on this wicket. Also, Washington Sundar is off the field due to a side strain, and Nitish Kumar Reddy is the replacement fielder.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Drops it in front of middle, on a fuller length, Glenn gets on the front foot and taps it with soft hands to extra cover.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, He steps down the track and works this flighted full ball to long off for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Slower through the air, at 86.3 kph, full on middle, Mitchell leans on and smothers the spin.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Overpitched on middle, Phillips drills it down to long on for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Short and it stays low on the bounce, around the leg stump, Daryl Mitchell nudges it off the back foot to square leg for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Short, on off, Glenn Phillips hangs back and knocks it down to long on for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Perfectly placed! More of a top-spin from Jadeja, full and on the leg stump line. Daryl Mitchell gets down on a knee and sweeps it uppishly, but through the mid-wicket and square leg gap for a cracking boundary. 9 off the over. Jadeja's figures read 5-0-26-0 so far.

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, Drags the length back, around off, GP rocks back and punches it along the ground, wide of mid off for a single. Phillips looks for the second but Mitchell screams to send him back.

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, In and around middle and leg, Glenn Phillips eases this full ball to mid on.

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, Slowish delivery, in front of the stumps, pushed back to the bowler.

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! Crrrunched! Short and around off, Glenn Phillips rocks back and threads the cover and mid off gap for a boundary.

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, Full and flat on middle, Glenn Phillips leans forward and pushes it back to the bowler.

A decent passage of play for India between overs 21 and 30. New Zealand added 49 runs in that phase, but it came at a cost, with three key wickets falling along the way. New Zealand need a stable partnership in the phase of next 10 overs for a strong finish.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Pushed through quicker, full and on middle, Daryl Mitchell steps across to work it to the leg side but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls towards backward square leg. Mitchell wants the run but is sent back in time. There is also an appeal for LBW from Kuldeep, but turned down. KL Rahul signals there is some bat involved.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, A googly, full and around off, Daryl Mitchell goes down for the reverse sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Floats it up, full and on middle, Glenn Phillips eases it to long on for another run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Daryl Mitchell, Short again and on leg, Daryl Mitchell clips it through square leg for a run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Shorter in length and on off, Glenn Phillips punches it to long on for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Phillips, Tossed up, full and on middle, Glenn Phillips defends it on the front foot.

Spin in tandem. Kuldeep Yadav (4-0-25-0) is back on, replacing Mohammed Siraj.

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, Drags his length back and around off, Glenn Phillips guides it through point for one more. 150 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!

Ravindra Jadeja to Glenn Phillips, Flighted delivery, full and on off, Glenn Phillips pushes it back to the bowler.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Quicker and shorter, outside off, Daryl Mitchell cuts it to deep point for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Flatter, full and on middle and leg, Daryl Mitchell knocks it to the right of the bowler.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Goes short and around off, Daryl Mitchell opens the face of his bat and punches it through cover-point and comes back for the second run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Tossed up, full and on off, Daryl Mitchell drives it wide of the bowler, where Ravindra Jadeja dives to his left to make a good stop.

Mohammed Siraj to Glenn Phillips, Pitched up and on off, Glenn Phillips fends it to the off side. Just 3 runs off the over and a wicket. Excellent stuff from Siraj!

Three relatively quick wickets for India. From 117/0, the tourists have slipped down to 146/3. Into the Kiwi middle order now as Glenn Phillips walks in at number 5. He recently scored an unbeaten 90 off 48 in the Super Smash, batting for Otago Volts against the Central Stags, where strikingly, he batted left-handed.

Mohammed Siraj to Will Young, OUT! TAKEN! Mohammed Siraj gets a wicket now, and he has deserved it. He steams in from over the wicket, rolls his fingers and bangs this into the pitch as well. Will Young just bends his back to sway away and tries to upper cut, but only manages to get a slight outside edge behind, where KL Rahul takes a dolly. Siraj did not give any room to the batters all over, and finally got the reward. New Zealand are 146/3 now, and the crowd is finding its voice again. Will Young departs on 12 (16).

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, Hard length and on middle, Daryl Mitchell punches it with a straight bat to long on for another run.

Mohammed Siraj to Will Young, Touch fuller and on middle, Will Young works it wide of mid on for a run.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, On a length and on leg, Daryl Mitchell clips it through square leg for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, Nice stop! Fuller and on middle, Daryl Mitchell clips it away wide of short mid-wicket, where Rohit Sharma dives to his left to stop it well. The crowd loved it!

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Goes short and outside off, Daryl Mitchell cuts it away to deep point for one. Just 2 runs off the over!

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Slower through the air, full and on middle, Daryl Mitchell knocks it back to the bowler.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Floated, full and around off, Daryl Mitchell strides out and taps it to short cover.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Flatter, short and on off, Daryl Mitchell tries to cut it away but chops it down onto the pitch.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Flighted, full and around off, Daryl Mitchell pushes it towards short cover, where Virat Kohli dives to his left and parries it to extra cover.

Ravindra Jadeja to Will Young, Tossed up, full and on off, Will Young drives it to long off for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Will Young, Bangs this into the pitch again, on middle, Will Young gets on top and pulls it away nicely wide of deep square leg for a run.

Mohammed Siraj to Will Young, WIDE! Bangs in a bouncer but down the leg side, Will Young leaves it alone. Called a wide.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, Short of a length and on middle, Daryl Mitchell pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Just over! Mohammed Siraj lands this on a good length and on off. Daryl Mitchell takes on the mid off fielder and muscles it. He does not get it from the middle of the bat but gets enough to get it over Shubman Gill for a boundary.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, Touch fuller this time, on off, Daryl Mitchell gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

Mohammed Siraj to Daryl Mitchell, Back of a length and on off, Devon Conway pats it down to short cover.

Mohammed Siraj to Will Young, On a length and on off, Will Young guides it to third man for a single.

At halfway into the first innings, New Zealand are 133/2, trying to rebuild once again. 29/2 in the last 5 overs, so the run rate hasn't dipped massively for the tourists. Mohammed Siraj is back on for his second spell. 4-0-15-0 are his bowling figures. He replaces Harshit Rana.

Ravindra Jadeja to Will Young, Flatter, full and around off, Will Young drills it away to deep point for one more.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Slows it up, shortish and on off, turns away. Daryl Mitchell stays back but just gets squared and steers it off the outer half of the bat towards point for one.

Ravindra Jadeja to Will Young, Goes short and on middle, Will Young nudges it through mid-wicket for a run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Flighted, full and on off, Daryl Mitchell pushes it through cover-point and calls for the second. However, Mitchell slips while turning back for the second, and seeing that Young cancels the plan. Nitish Kumar Reddy also fails to pick it up cleanly in the deep, as he overruns, but it does not cost much.

Ravindra Jadeja to Daryl Mitchell, Floated, full and on off, Daryl Mitchell goes down and reverse sweeps it wide of sweeper covers. The fielder in the deep runs to his left and dives to make a fine stop. Two taken.

Ravindra Jadeja to Will Young, Goes short and around off, Will Young punches it through covers for a single.

Both the well-set openers are back in the sheds in a very short span, both dismissed by Rana. Daryl Mitchell is in at number 4. He averages over 53 in ODI cricket and is going through a fabulous phase in this format off late.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, OUT! DRAGGED ON! Harshit Rana has turned things around in the space of 2 overs here. Clever change of pace again from him, but this time with pace on, as he bowls this on 142.2 kph. Serves this full and around off, gets it to nip back in a bit. Devon Conway goes for the big-booming drive to the off side, but without much footwork. The ball catches the inside edge and crashes onto the leg pole. Conway departs for 56 off 67, and Rana gets rid of both openers. New Zealand slip from 117/0 to 126/2.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, A slower one, full and on off, Devon Conway drives it away to mid off.

Harshit Rana to Will Young, Hits the length hard, on off, nips back in sharply. Will Young plays it very close to his stumps and pats it in front of point. The batters take on Ravindra Jadeja and scamper for one.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, Back of a length and around leg, takes pace off, Devon Conway hooks it towards short fine, where a fumble means the batters get another run.

Harshit Rana to Will Young, On a length and around leg, Will Young glances it towards short fine for a run.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, BUZZERS! Fuller delivery, on middle, Devon Conway bunts it back towards the bowler. Harshit Rana grabs it on his follow-through but tries to be clever and flicks it back onto the stumps at the bowler's end to catch Young off-guard, but misses, which allows the single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Will Young, A bit shorter and on middle, Will Young moves back and keeps it out on the pitch.

Ravindra Jadeja to Will Young, Slows it up, full and on middle, Will Young stays back and turns it to the leg side.

Ravindra Jadeja to Devon Conway, Drags his length back, on middle, Devon Conway punches it to long on for one.

Ravindra Jadeja to Will Young, Flighted, full and on off, Will Young drills it to the right of mid off and scampers across for another run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Devon Conway, Floated, short and on middle, Devon Conway flicks it off the back foot through mid-wicket for a run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Will Young, Tossed up, full and on off, Will Young drives it to long off for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja is introduced into the attack. Spinner number 3 for India. He replaces Kuldeep Yadav.

Harshit Rana to Will Young, Short of a length and on off, Will Young dabs it in front of point and picks up a single to get off the mark.

Harshit Rana to Will Young, A bouncer to welcome the new batter, on middle, Will Young pulls it hard but finds the short mid-wicket fielder.

Finally, a wicket for India. But Nicholls and Conway allied together to form a strong foundation for the rest to come. Will Young walks in at number 3. FYI, he was the Player of the Series when New Zealand toured India for a 3-match Test series in late 2024.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! A very soft dismissal, but India won't mind one bit as they finally break the huge 117-run opening stand. Harshit Rana cleverly rolls his fingers on the ball to take pace off, serves this full and way outside off. Henry Nicholls gets in two minds whether to play or not, and ends up just hanging his bat out to reach for it. The ball dips just in front of his bat and takes the outside edge, before KL Rahul dives to his left to take a fine catch behind the stumps. Nicholls falls for an excellent 62 off 69, and has given New Zealand a superb start here.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! TWO IN TWO! The base has been set, and now the Kiwi openers are taking on the bowlers. Bangs this into the pitch, but not short enough to trouble the batter. Henry Nicholls picks up the length early and pulls it with disdain to the deep mid-wicket fence for another boundary.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! Gets it away! Harshit Rana lands this short of a length and around middle. Henry Nicholls comes down the track, gets on top of it, and heaves it away past the mid-wicket fielder for a boundary.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Good-length delivery, on off, Henry Nicholls crouches low and steers it away but straight to point.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, A bit quicker, full and on leg, Henry Nicholls drives it to long on for one more.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Slows it up, full and around middle, Henry Nicholls pushes it back to the bowler.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Flatter, full and on middle and leg, Henry Nicholls goes down and swipes it behind square on the leg side for a couple of runs.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Floated, full and on middle, Henry Nicholls knocks it wide of the bowler, where Kuldeep Yadav dives to his right to make a good stop. Gets applause from the crowd as well.

Kuldeep Yadav to Devon Conway, Flighted, full and on middle and leg, Devon Conway drills it down to long on for a run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Tossed up, full and on off, Henry Nicholls eases it towards long off for a single.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, FOUR! FIFTY FOR DEVON CONWAY AS WELL! This is his 6th ODI half century. He is opening up his range of shots now. Touch full, outside off, Devon Conway dances down the track and smokes it inside out over extra cover for a cracking six. Calmly raises his bat to acknowledge the applause from his teammates. He and Nicholls have laid a solid base for their side. They have hardly been troubled at the crease.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, FIFTY FOR HENRY NICHOLLS! His 16th ODI half century. Dropped on 4 earlier, he has batted in complete control and is making India pay for that error. Slowish through the air, around off, Henry works it widish long off for a single to get to his milestone. 100 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND! The men in the Kiwi dressing room get on their feet to appreciate this knock of his.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Short and around off, Devon Conway punches it to long off for a single.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, On a length, around leg, knocked off the back foot to long on for a single.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Floated up outside off at 97.6 kph. Conway strides forward, opens the face of the bat and eases it out to deep point for a single.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Length, outside off, cut off the back foot to deep backward point for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Dropped short, on middle, bunted down to long on for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, He presses ahead on this full ball and eases it back to the bowler.

Kuldeep Yadav to Devon Conway, STRAIGHT UP... LANDS SAFE! Fortunes favor Conway once again. Fullish delivery, around off, Devon Conway tries to sweep it away but gets a fat top edge that lands safely between the short fine leg and short third fielders for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Devon Conway, Full and straight, on off, Devon leans and flicks off the inner half to mid-wicket.

Kuldeep Yadav to Devon Conway, SIX! Misjudgment from Sundar costs India a six. Virat Kohli is fuming at the fielder as to why he is 10-12 yards in off the ropes. Kuldeep cannot quite believe it. Full on the stumps, Conway drops to one knee and plays the slog sweep aerially. He drags it off the inside half, and it sails over Sundar, who was stationed a few yards inside the rope. Sundar soon tried to correct himself by running back and tried to pluck with his right hand over his head, but the ball just lands on the cushions for a six. The TV umpire checks and confirms it landed flush on the boundary cushion.

Kuldeep Yadav to Devon Conway, Slides on the leg stump, on a length, Devon hangs back and tucks it to mid on.

India are deploying spin from both ends now in the hopes of getting a wicket. They have managed to get a couple of quiet overs and will be looking to build on that and try to put a bit of pressure on the batters, who, so far, have looked pretty solid out there.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Pushed through, full and into the batter, Devon Conway tries to sweep by getting down, but gets an inside edge onto the pads and the ball rolls to the off side for a single.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Much fuller, around off, Henry Nicholls leans on and works it to deep cover for a single.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Touch full, around middle and off. Henry bumps it back to the bowler.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, On a dragged length, around the leg stump, Devon nudges it down to long on for a single.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Floated nicely, full and on middle, Devon reverse sweeps it to short third.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, A massive appeal for LBW, but not given. Gill walks up to chat with the keeper and the bowler, and there is a bit of a conference among the Indian players, probably regarding the impact. But after those discussions, they opt against the review. Conway steps out of the crease to push the full ball straight, but plays over the line and seems to have got beaten on the inside edge, wearing it on the front pad. And there we have it. Ball Tracking shows the impact is outside off.

Kuldeep Yadav to Devon Conway, On a good length, this is punched down to long on for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Full and on the stumps, drilled down the ground for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Conventional leg break, full and around off, Nicholls gets a good stride in and eases it to extra cover.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Nice and full, on middle, defended off the front foot.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, WIDE! KL Rahul thinks it has grazed the inside edge and appeals for a caught behind, but the umpire doesn't think so. UltraEdge shows that the ball actually clipped the flap of the front pad on its way to the keeper. But it's given as a wide. Slides one down leg, on a length, Nicholls misses to tuck it around the corner, and the keeper, KL Rahul, moves to his right and gathers it.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Full and on middle, Henry lunges ahead and defends it off the inside half of the bat to mid-wicket.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Slides one on the leg stump, full in length, Henry Nicholls leans forward and clips it through mid-wicket for a single.

DRINKS BREAK! This has been an excellent start for New Zealand. They have been hardly troubled by the bowlers and have looked more at home. The two left-handers saw off the new ball phase watchfully, and are now gradually starting to up the scoring rate. They might have not found a lot of boundaries, but they have kept themselves busy by rotating the strike. India have deployed spin from one end, and would like to get a couple of wickets as quickly as possible to push the opponents on the back foot. New Zealand potentially could have been one down way early, had Kuldeep snaffled that chance off Nicholls. With the scoring rate just a touch south of 5, these two will try to keep up with the pace in the middle phase. Jadeja is yet to be introduced, but for now, it will be Kuldeep Yadav to bowl from this end. 1-0-7-0 so far.

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, On a length and on off, Devon Conway pats it in front of point and wants the run but is sent back, and rightly so.

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, Prasidh Krishna nails a yorker now, just outside off. Devon Conway is not expecting that and fails to get his bat down in time to dig it out.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, Fuller delivery and around off, Henry Nicholls drives it through covers for another run.

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, Back of a length and on off, Devon Conway runs it down to third man for a run.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, Uppish but safe! Short of a length and on middle and leg, Henry Nicholls pulls it but just checks his shot. It goes off the upper half of the bat but lands well in front of the deep square leg fielder. They cross.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, Good-length delivery, on off, Henry Nicholls pushes it towards short cover.

20 runs in the last 3 overs for New Zealand, and these two southpaws are feeling at home now. The most important feature of this partnership is that they haven't been flashy at all. Both batters have different sets of techniques, but have fared well. Where Nicholls plays with a straight bat and leaning forward with a big stride, Conway's feet don't move much, and his head slightly falls over while driving the ball.

Kuldeep Yadav to Devon Conway, Slower through the air again from Kuldeep Yadav, full and on off, turns away. Devon Conway uses his feet but his front foot lands on the heel and he slips. However, he manages to get his bat in front of his pad to keep it out.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Slows it up, full and on middle, Henry Nicholls eases it towards long on for one.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! Brilliant shot! Henry Nicholls is looking in real good touch here. Floated, full and around off. Nicholls goes down and executes the reverse sweep to perfection past backward point for a boundary.

Kuldeep Yadav to Devon Conway, Goes short and on off, Devon Conway moves back and punches it through cover-point for a run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Devon Conway, Flighted, full and on middle, Devon Conway prods forward and blocks it out.

Kuldeep Yadav to Henry Nicholls, Tossed up, full and on off, Henry Nicholls looks to drive it away but gets an inside edge towards short fine for a quick single.

India are in a desperate search for a wicket. And for that, Gill summons his ace spinner. Kuldeep Yadav, who dropped Nicholls early in the innings on 4, is brought into the attack now. He replaces Washington Sundar.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, Much fuller and around off, Henry Nicholls pushes it towards cover for a quick one.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, On a length and on middle, Henry Nicholls pats it towards mid on.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! Good effort in the deep, but in vain! Back of a length and on middle and leg, Henry Nicholls rolls his wrists again and pulls it with great timing towards deep backward square leg. Mohammed Siraj runs a long way to his right and dives to stop it with his right hand, but it touches the ropes and the ball also rolls behind into the fence. The TV umpire checks for it and confirms that it is a boundary.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, Full again and on middle, Henry Nicholls drills it towards mid on.

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, Pitched up and on middle, Devon Conway uses his feet to go over extra cover, but the ball holds up in the surface. It takes the inside edge and rolls towards mid on as the batters get a single.

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, Fuller delivery and around off, Devon Conway taps it towards short cover.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Another short delivery around off, Devon Conway stays back and forces it towards sweeper cover. Calls for two, but the fielder is quick to get the ball and the batters have to settle for one.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Flighted, full and on off, Henry Nicholls drives it to long off for a run.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Drags his length back and on off, Henry Nicholls moves back and punches it towards cover-point.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! Nicely done! Flatter, full and on off. Henry Nicholls goes down across and sweeps it away with good timing, beating short fine leg to his right for a boundary.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Floated, full and on middle, Devon Conway tucks it a bit uppishly but safely towards long on for a single.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Tossed up, full and on middle, Devon Conway looks to drive it away but gets a bottom edge back towards the bowler.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, Pulls his length back, on off, skids through a bit. Henry Nicholls gets a bit squared up but manages to keep it out to the right of the bowler.

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, Touch fuller and around off, Devon Conway opens the face of his bat and guides it towards deep third for one.

On air, Ravi Shastri gave an excellent breakdown of Devon Conway's recent technical adjustments. Shastri detailed that while Conway used to lead with his hands before, he has now synchronized his movement. With the bat and hands meeting the ball at the same time, Conway is finding it much easier to find the middle of the bat.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, On a length and on middle, Henry Nicholls pats it with soft hands towards mid on for an easy run.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, Hits the length hard and on off, takes off a bit, Henry Nicholls rides the bounce and dabs it down to backward point.

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, Back of a length and on middle, angling in, Devon Conway waits for it and runs it down to deep third for a single.

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, Short of a length and outside off, Devon Conway cuts it away hard but straight to point. That was there to be put away.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Loops it up, full and on middle, Devon Conway backs away and drives it through covers for one.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Arm ball, full and on middle, angling in, Henry Nicholls drills it to long on for another run.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Pushed through quicker, short again and just around off. Henry Nicholls tries to cut it away but gets a bit hurried and stabs it out to point.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Slightly shorter in length and on off, Devon Conway moves back and punches it to long off for a run.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Floated, full and on middle, Devon Conway pushes it back to the bowler.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Tossed up, full and on middle, Henry Nicholls eases it to long off for a single. 50 UP FOR NEW ZEALAND!

That's the end of the first Powerplay! Undoubtedly, with no loss of a wicket, New Zealand have bossed it up nicely. They have also maintained a decent pace, going about at 4.9 runs per over, with both openers getting starts. As the field spreads, with a maximum of 4 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle, in the span of 11-40 overs, these two will look to double it down in this middle phase. Washington Sundar (1-0-4-0) to continue.

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, Length again, on middle, Devon Conway keeps it out to the leg side. 9 runs from the last over of Powerplay 1!

Prasidh Krishna to Devon Conway, FOUR! He's got that away! Prasidh Krishna bowls this on a good length but down the leg side. Devon Conway tickles it away fine and wide of deep fine leg. Mohammed Siraj runs to his left and puts in a dive, but fails to stop the boundary.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, Short of a length and around off, Henry Nicholls steers it through backward point for one.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! Cheeky and effective! Prasidh Krishna hits the length hard and around off. Henry Nicholls shuffles across after the delivery has been bowled. He brings out the ramp and gets it over short fine leg for a boundary.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, On a length and around middle, Henry Nicholls tucks it away to short mid-wicket.

Prasidh Krishna to Henry Nicholls, Back of a length and on middle, sticks to the surface a bit. Henry Nicholls tries to heave it across the line but goes a bit early. It lobs up off the leading edge and rolls towards point.

Double change as expected. Here's Prasidh Krishna, pacer number three, replacing Harshit Rana.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Flatter, full and outside off, skids through and stays low, Devon Conway goes for the big drive but just with his hands, fails to connect. Just 4 runs off Sundar's first over!

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Short again and on off, Henry Nicholls punches it towards extra cover for a single.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Goes a bit short and on middle, Henry Nicholls stabs it back to the bowler.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Good effort in the deep! Flighted delivery, full and on middle. Henry Nicholls comes down the track and lofts it with a straight bat and wide of long off. Mohammed Siraj runs across to his left and pushes it back into the field of play to keep it down to two runs.

Washington Sundar to Henry Nicholls, Tossed up, full and on middle, angles in, Henry Nicholls prods forward and knocks it to the left of the bowler.

Washington Sundar to Devon Conway, Floated, full and on middle and leg, Devon Conway uses his feet and drills it to long off for a single.

Spin has been introduced now in the form of Washington Sundar, who replaces Mohammed Siraj. A slip in place.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Fuller delivery, on the pads, Henry Nicholls glances it away but straight towards short fine. A bit to either side and it would have been a boundary.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Hits the length hard, on middle, Henry Nicholls hangs back on his crease and pats it back to the bowler.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, WIDE! Harshit Rana bangs this hard into the pitch, angling into the leg side. Henry Nicholls tries to hook it away, but it looks like he misses due to the extra bounce, and it goes behind. KL Rahul moves to his right and grabs it. He appeals for the catch but mostly to bluff the umpire for not giving a wide. The tactic did not work as a wide is given. Rana looks very interested, but Shubman Gill does not take the review, and UltraEdge also shows no spike.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Pulls his length back a bit, on middle, Henry Nicholls tucks it away with soft hands through mid-wicket and comes back for the second run.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Touch fuller and on off, Henry Nicholls pushes it towards extra cover.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! Put away! Short of a length and on middle, angling in a bit. Henry Nicholls gets on top of the bounce nicely, rolls his wrists and pulls it away. Doesn't try to hit it too hard, just gets it past the mid-wicket fielder for a boundary.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Lands this on a good length and around off. Henry Nicholls opens the face of his bat and steers it towards point.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, On a length and on off, Devon Conway pushes it towards cover.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, FOUR! Excellent timing and placement! Pitched up and on off, Mohammed Siraj rolls his fingers to take pace off. Devon Conway reads it well and drives it beautifully in the gap between extra cover and mid off. Virat Kohli moves to his left from extra cover but has no chance, and it beats the dive of Shubman Gill at mid off to race to the fence behind for a boundary.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Fuller again and around off, Devon Conway strides out and drives it firmly but fails to beat extra cover.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Much fuller this time, on middle and on off, Devon Conway gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

Mohammed Siraj to Henry Nicholls, Short of a length and around off, Henry Nicholls steps across to get inside the line of it and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Henry Nicholls, Good-length delivery, on middle, Henry Nicholls stays on the back foot and knocks it with a straight bat towards mid on.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, On a back of a length, just outside off, Conway drives it to the mid off fielder.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, FOUR! PUNISHED! Slammed hard into the pitch, on middle and leg, Devon Conway lifts his front leg up in the air to balance himself nicely and rolls his wrists to the left of deep fine leg for a boundary.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Full and on off, Nicholls steals a single in front of mid off. The fielder runs forward and underflicks the ball towards the non-striker's end while diving, but misses his shy, allowing Nicholls to rush into the crease.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, On a length, around off, driven away to the left of mid off for a single.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, IN THE AIR AND DROPPED! Kuldeep Yadav is not one of the best of the fielders, but that was a regulation chance. Harshit is shell-shocked and the camera pans on Gill who has a straightish look, hiding his disappointment. On a back of a length, outside off, Henry Nicholls slashes hard, but gets a thick outside edge that flies at catchable height towards deep third. The ball dips a bit in front of Kuldeep, as he runs in off the ropes, a bit to his left, but just doesn't get himself into a comfortable position to catch it. He opts to go down a bit, his left knee jars on the ground, and because of the jerk, the ball pops out of his palms to roll away for a single.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Nagging length, around middle, Henry Nicholls hops off and tucks it to cover.

The pitch appears to be on the slower side, with an uneven bounce on it. It just might get a bit more uneven as the game progresses. Harshit Rana (2-0-7-0) to continue from this end.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Fractionally full, on middle, angling in. Devon Conway presses forward and bunts it down the pitch.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Full and straight, around off, Devon Conway cracks the drive on the up and finds mid off.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Hard length, nipping away from off, Devon Conway rocks back and dabs it to backward point using soft hands.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Length-delivery, outside off, Conway steers it away to backward point.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, FOUR! Geez, that has pinged off the bat! At 136.5 kph, on a good length, just outside off, Devon Conway gets a good stride forward and drives it through the narrow gap between point and cover for a boundary.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Back of a length, outside off, Conway is happy to not go fishing at it. The ball dies on its way to the keeper as KL Rahul has to bend low to gather it before the grass.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Outside off, on a length, Conway lets it be. Again, the ball bounces before the keeper.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, Touch full, around off, Devon presses ahead and knocks it to the right of cover for a quick single.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, Loose from Devon! This one leaves the batter after landing the seam, outside off, on a good length. Devon Conway chases the ball without moving his feet and gets beaten on the outside edge by a whisker.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, FOUR! Right out of the coach's manual! Overpitched by Rana, angling into the batter, Devon Conway gets on the front foot, presents a straight bat with a steady head, and cracks the straight drive down the ground for a cracking boundary. Everything was so on point about that shot.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, Fractionally fuller, at 142.1 kph, around off, Conway strides across and steers it straight to backward point. Stopped by Jadeja there.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, WIDE! For height! Way too short, flying over the batter's head. Conway ducks under it.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, From around the stumps, this is short, outside off, Conway ignores.

Mohammed Siraj to Henry Nicholls, FOUR! Henry is off the mark with the first boundary of the inning! On a back of a length, on top of middle and leg, Henry Nicholls hangs deep in the crease and glances it nicely using his wrists. Plays a bit uppishly but through the vacant square leg region for a boundary.

Mohammed Siraj to Henry Nicholls, Hard length, outside off at 136.4 kph, Henry Nicholls plays off the back foot and punches it to the cover fielder.

Mohammed Siraj to Henry Nicholls, Angled across the batter, full in length, Henry Nicholls leans forward and drives it crisply, but cannot get it past the mid off fielder.

Mohammed Siraj to Henry Nicholls, Slammed on the hard length, outside off, Henry rocks back and knocks it down to mid off.

Mohammed Siraj to Henry Nicholls, Close leave! Back of a length, just outside off, Henry Nicholls leaves and the ball zips back to the keeper.

Harsha Bhogle on air shares that the Kotambi Stadium of Vadodara is the 51st Indian ODI venue.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Full and straight, around off, at 138.5 kph, Devon pushes it to the left of mid off for a quick single.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Much fuller, in and around middle, Nicholls drives it straight and Rana sticks out his left hand to stop on his follow-through.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Bashed on a length, on top of middle, Henry Nicholls hangs back and taps it to point with soft hands.

Harshit Rana to Henry Nicholls, Two slips in place for Henry! Fuller ball, just outside off, slanting in a touch. Henry Nicholls closely watches it and decides to offer no shot.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, Back of a length, outside off, at 136.4 kph, Conway strides ahead and guides the ball through widish backward point for a single.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, Closer to the batter, angling in, but still fairly outside off, Conway shoulders arms. This time, KL Rahul gets a good carry as he collects the ball at his chest height.

Harshit Rana to Devon Conway, Wide outside off, on a good length, Devon Conway is happy to let that go.

A decent start for Siraj. He got the ball to swing a bit. But we already have the signs that there is not much bounce on offer. Pace from the other end. Here's Harshit Rana into the attack.

Mohammed Siraj to Henry Nicholls, In front of the stumps, slightly shaping in from middle, Henry Nicholls leans on the front foot and blocks this full ball back to Siraj.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Conway and New Zealand are underway! Length-delivery, jagging in a touch. Devon nudges it across to square leg, where Sundar fumbles a bit and allows the batters to cross for a single.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Beats the bat! On the fifth stump line, and then snaking back into the batter, fuller in length. Devon Conway presses ahead to defend, but plays the initial line and gets beaten on the outside edge. The ball doesn't carry behind and goes on the bounce to KL Rahul.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Curves back in again, full in length, on leg, Devon Conway forces the flick to short mid-wicket.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Shapes in a bit, full on middle and leg, Devon Conway drills it off the front foot to mid on.

Mohammed Siraj to Devon Conway, Siraj is on the money! Generates a good bit of swing into the batter, around off and full. Devon Conway presses forward and drives it to short cover, where Kohli dives to his left and stops it.

All the pre-match rituals are done and dusted, and it’s time for the first ODI to get underway. As expected, the Kotambi Stadium is packed to the rafters, with long queues still forming outside as fans look to soak in the atmosphere at this stunning venue, hosting its maiden men’s ODI. The conditions are warm and pleasant, with clear skies overhead and not a cloud in sight. Out walk the two umpires, and the Indian team forms a huddle before they spread across the field and take their respective spots. Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls are the two Kiwi openers. Back in the Indian ODI setup, Mohammed Siraj is all set to bowl the first over. Conway gears up to face the first ball. The countdown is done, and here we go...

We are just a few minutes away from the first ball, but before that, following the match referee, Javagal Srinath, and the two umpires, out walk the two sets of teams and get lined up for their respective national anthems. It will be New Zealand's first, followed by the Indian national anthem.

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (WK), Michael Bracewell (C), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke (On ODI Debut), Kyle Jamieson, and Adithya Ashok.

India (Playing XI) - Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.

The captain of New Zealand, Michael Bracewell, says that they would have opted to bowl first, adding that the side has been here for a while now and has grown accustomed to the conditions. He speaks highly of the facilities and notes that it is a big series to be part of. He adds that it is always a source of pride to represent New Zealand and feels that playing in these conditions ahead of the World Cup is a huge advantage. Bracewell also mentions how enjoyable it is to play in front of large crowds. Assessing the surface, he feels it looks like a decent wicket, though perhaps a touch lower than what they are used to back home in New Zealand. Informs that Kristian Clarke is set to make his debut and Adithya Ashok is their frontline spinner, including himself.

The Indian captain, Shubman Gill, says that they will bowl first. Adds that they want to try different combinations according to different conditions. Mentions that it is always tough to bowl second here in India with all the dew in so that is a factor that they are bowling first. Says that most of the players are coming off playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which gives a bit of experience. Tells that the surface looks good, and hopes that there is dew and batting becomes easier later on. Informs that they are going with six bowlers, with Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep being the spinners, and Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Krishna are the three pacers.

TOSS - The coin flip lands in the favor of India and Shubman Gill elects to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta and Simon Doull are assessing the conditions at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Deep begins by pointing out the dimensions, noting that the square boundaries are even on both sides at 67 metres, with 77 metres straight down the ground. Simon then chimes in, admitting it’s a surface that’s tricky to read at first glance. He highlights that it’s a black-soil pitch and notes the cracks are starting to open up under the heat, with a few of them widening as well. Doull adds that the surface feels hard on top but softer underneath, suggesting it may not turn into a run-fest. He reckons a total in the region of 300 would be extremely competitive. Looking ahead, he also expects the ball to skid on later in the game due to the dew, before saying there may not be a great deal of turn on offer.

New Zealand arrive with a slightly reworked squad, viewing this tour as both a challenge and an opportunity to test their depth in subcontinental conditions. Led by Michael Bracewell, the visitors will lean on the experience of Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Henry Nicholls to anchor the batting, while Will Young provides stability at the top. Their bowling unit, featuring the height and bounce of Kyle Jamieson alongside a mix of seam and spin options, will need to adapt quickly to Indian conditions. With nothing to lose and plenty of quality in their ranks, New Zealand will look to apply early pressure and make a strong statement in the series opener. Stay tuned for toss and other updates.

India step into the series with a strong and familiar core, built around experience and depth across departments. Shubman Gill is back from injury and leads the side, with stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli forming the backbone of a batting unit that also features KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, the hosts have suffered a setback ahead of the series with Rishabh Pant ruled out due to a side-strain injury sustained during a net session, and Dhruv Jurel replacing him. With the ball, India boast a varied attack, combining pace through Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna, while Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar offer control and wicket-taking options in the middle overs.

The challenge of the white-ball season gets underway as India and New Zealand lock horns in the 1st ODI of the three-match series at the Kotambi Stadium, a venue ready to host top-tier international cricket once again. With both sides eyeing momentum early in the series, this opener sets the tone for what promises to be a competitive contest between two teams that know each other well and rarely leave anything on the field. Welcome along to our coverage as we get ready for the first ball in Vadodara.

... MATCH DAY ...

As the Test season ends across the cricketing landscape for now, action in white-ball cricket is just about to notch up a mile. Sure, T20 leagues are popping off everywhere you look, continuing global domination, but something special is brewing on Indian soil. The Black Caps are flying in from the ‘land of the long white cloud’, ready to lock horns with the Men in Blue in what promises to be an absolute cracker of a white-ball series. The action kicks off at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, which is all set to host its first-ever men’s ODI game, before moving to Rajkot, and wrapping things up in Indore. Think of it as the appetiser before the main course, a five-match T20I feast that will serve as the final audition before the big dance at the T20 World Cup, which is barely a month away from now. With the calendar flipped to a new year and the next ODI World Cup still a good eighteen months down the road, both teams will be viewing this series through fresh eyes. It's a clean slate moment. India and New Zealand can actually play around a bit, figure out their best combinations, and start mapping out where they want to be when the next World Cup cycle really heats up. Now, these two haven't faced each other in ODIs since that Champions Trophy final back in March 2025, so there's a bit of anticipation in the air. India last suited up for 50-over cricket against South Africa at home in December, scraping through with a 2-1 series win. New Zealand, meanwhile, had a more comfortable outing, blanking the West Indies 3-0 at home in November. After missing the series against the Proteas due to a neck spasm, Shubman Gill returns to lead a 15-member Indian squad, which features Shreyas Iyer as the deputy. Iyer’s participation was subject to fitness clearance, but he is all set to feature after that Australia series Down Under, with Ruturaj Gaikwad making way for him despite scoring a century in his last dig. Apart from them, the big daddies of Indian cricket also return to treat the fans. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both now working as full-time ODI compatriots, have been in some fine nick. Rohit has churned out three half-centuries and a hundred in his last six ODI appearances, in fact, in the Champions Trophy finale, he scored a 76 against the Kiwis. Kohli's somehow gone one better, smashing two fifties and two tons in that same stretch. KL Rahul holds onto his spot, which makes complete sense given how solid he's been anchoring that middle order. Rishabh Pant joins him as the secondary wicketkeeping option, marking his return to ODI cricket for the first time since August 2024. Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Nitish Kumar Reddy provide the all-round options, while Kuldeep Yadav brings his wrist-spin wizardry to the table. The pace battery features Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj. Siraj last represented India in ODIs during the tour of Australia. He has been a regular member of the Test squad while also turning out for Hyderabad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy recently. ‘Dream is to win another series in India.’ Bold words from Will Young, who was named player of the series when New Zealand pulled off that historically stunning 3-0 Test whitewash on Indian soil. Ambitious from Will and understandably so as the Kiwis defeated Pakistan, England, and the West Indies 3-0 after that Champions Trophy finale defeat to India, and will hope to do the same against a far tougher ODI opponent in the blues. Power-packed, but not bulletproof. This is what perfectly describes New Zealand’s ODI squad for this series. They have named a largely second-string side, with one eye on the upcoming T20 World Cup. Michael Bracewell, who has a 100 per cent win record as captain in ODIs, will lead the team. Devon Conway, who's been on an absolute run-scoring spree, partners with Will Young and Henry Nicholls to complete the top order. Then there's Daryl Mitchell, the steady hand who's become a massive asset for the Kiwis. His numbers since the start of 2025 tell the story. Out of 16 innings, he's racked up a century and six fifty-plus scores, getting dismissed in single digits just once. That's insane consistency. Apart from these, experienced blokes like Glenn Phillips and Kyle Jamieson are also there with Mitchell Hay as the keeper. But largely, their squad reads several new faces, and one among those is Adithya Ashok of Indian origin, and a right-arm leg spinner, who has featured in a couple of ODIs in 2023. There are some other fresh faces who have risen from stellar domestic ranks across departments. Bowling is where New Zealand look a bit light. Jamieson and Zakary Foulkes are the only established names, while Kristian Clarke and Michael Rae are both set to make their ODI debuts. New Zealand and India will be facing off in a bilateral ODI series only after 2023, whereas India will be eyeing to maintain a series win streak at home since March of that year. Plenty to play for. Let’s hope that it turns out to be a humdinger of a series.