Auckland, November 2026 : India's inexperienced pace attack delivered an impressive collective performance to bowl New Zealand out for 185 in 40.2 overs in the first ODI at Eden Park on Wednesday. Arshdeep Singh spearheaded the effort with four wickets, while Gurnoor Brar claimed three and Anshul Kamboj produced an economical spell of 2-22 from his 10 overs.
After opting to bowl, India made an early breakthrough when Arshdeep dismissed Will Young for nine in the fifth over. The left-arm pacer struck again in the ninth over, removing Henry Nicholls, also for nine, to leave New Zealand at 44/2. Both batters fell while attempting pull shots, with Shreyas Iyer and Naman Dhir completing the catches.
Tim Seifert offered some resistance with an aggressive 38 off 43 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes. He used the short boundaries at Eden Park effectively, employing the scoop shot and attacking the Indian seamers whenever they missed their lengths. However, Brar ended his innings in the 15th over, with substitute fielder Ruturaj Gaikwad taking the catch at mid-on.
Daryl Mitchell then attempted to steady the innings, scoring 28 from 41 balls with three fours and a six. He received limited support from captain Tom Latham, who was dismissed for three in the 17th over. Brar produced a spectacular one-handed catch off his own bowling to remove the New Zealand skipper, further denting the hosts' hopes of rebuilding.
India tightened their grip when Mitchell was run out for 28 following sharp fielding from Rohit Sharma and quick work behind the stumps by wicketkeeper KL Rahul. New Zealand slipped to 99/5, leaving their middle order under pressure.
Kamboj then made an important contribution by dismissing Mitchell Santner for four in the 27th over. Nathan Smith, who managed just one run, became Kamboj's second victim after edging the delivery to Virat Kohli at second slip. Kohli completed an excellent diving catch as New Zealand were reduced to 113/7.
With wickets falling regularly, Glenn Phillips was left with the responsibility of rebuilding the innings. He managed a brief partnership with Kyle Jamieson, but the latter could score only one before Arshdeep dismissed him, with Kohli taking the catch at cover.
Jacob Duffy contributed 15 runs, but New Zealand's hopes of reaching a competitive total suffered another setback when Arshdeep removed Phillips for 30 in the 36th over. Shreyas Iyer took a straightforward catch at mid-off, leaving the visitors' opponents at 146/9?
Blair Tickner, however, produced an unexpected late counterattack. Alongside Duffy, he added valuable runs and took on the Indian seamers with a series of aggressive strokes. Tickner smashed four sixes in his 23-ball 34, while Duffy scored 15 off 21 deliveries.
Their ninth-wicket resistance included a productive 38th over against Arshdeep, in which Tickner struck three sixes and helped New Zealand cross the 180-run mark. The late surge briefly lifted the hosts after India's bowlers had dominated proceedings for most of the innings.
Brar eventually ended the partnership by dismissing Tickner, who was caught behind by Rahul in the 41st over. New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs.
Arshdeep finished with figures of 4-70, while Brar returned 3-44. Kamboj's 2-22 from 10 overs, including two maiden overs, stood out for its economy. His performance was particularly notable following an expensive outing against the West Indies in his previous ODI.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 185 all out in 40.2 overs (Tim Seifert 38, Blair Tickner 34, Glenn Phillips 30; Arshdeep Singh 4-70, Gurnoor Brar 3-44, Anshul Kamboj 2-22) against India.
