Rain interrupted the contest multiple times, forcing the target to be revised twice under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. India, which initially had a target of 186 runs, was first set a revised target of 167 runs in 40 overs after the first rain interruption. Following another stoppage, the target was reduced to 143 runs in 32 overs. India chased down the revised target comfortably in 22.4 overs, with 56 balls remaining.
The next match of the series will be played in Wellington on Saturday, November 7. Kohli's impressive innings came just one day before his birthday on November 5.
Kohli and Shubman Gill shared a 113-run partnership that put India in control of the chase. However, Gill was dismissed for 37 after giving a catch to Tom Latham off Nathan Smith's bowling. Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls before Jacob Duffy dismissed him. His innings included 13 boundaries and one six.
India suffered two more setbacks when Axar Patel was dismissed for a duck and Shreyas Iyer departed for 15, both falling to Duffy. Naman Dhir remained unbeaten on five, while KL Rahul finished on three not out as India completed the victory.
India's chase did not begin smoothly. Experienced opener Rohit Sharma was dismissed without scoring in the very first over, giving Kyle Jamieson an early breakthrough. Despite two rain interruptions, Kohli continued to anchor the innings and reached his half-century in just 35 balls, registering his 80th ODI fifty.
The target was revised twice during India's innings. After the first interruption, the team needed 167 runs in 40 overs. A second spell of rain resulted in another revision, reducing the target to 143 runs in 32 overs under the DLS method.
New Zealand's batting performance remained below expectations as the Indian bowling attack restricted the hosts to 185 runs in 40.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh led the attack with four wickets, Gurjapneet Brar claimed three, and Anshul Kamboj picked up two wickets with an economical spell of 10 overs for 22 runs.
Tim Seifert and Will Young opened the innings for New Zealand. Arshdeep provided India with its first two breakthroughs in the fifth over, dismissing Will Young for nine after Shreyas Iyer took the catch. He then removed Henry Nicholls, also for nine, with Naman Dhir completing the catch at midwicket.
Gurjapneet Brar delivered India's third breakthrough by dismissing Tim Seifert, who scored 38 runs. Brar then removed New Zealand captain Tom Latham for three through a caught-and-bowled dismissal.
New Zealand lost its fifth wicket at 97 runs when Daryl Mitchell was run out for 28 following a throw from Rohit Sharma. Anshul Kamboj then dismissed Mitchell Santner, who managed just four runs off 16 balls. The ball took an edge off his bat before hitting the stumps.
Kamboj struck again to remove Nathan Smith for one, with Virat Kohli taking the catch. Smith's dismissal left New Zealand struggling at 115/7. Arshdeep then dismissed Kyle Jamieson for one after Kohli took another catch.
Glenn Phillips offered some resistance but was eventually dismissed for 30 off 51 balls by Arshdeep Singh, with Shreyas Iyer taking the catch. Phillips struck two fours and one six during his innings.
Blair Tickner was the last New Zealand batter to be dismissed. He scored 34 runs off 23 balls before Gurjapneet Brar had him caught behind by wicketkeeper KL Rahul. It was Brar's third wicket of the match, completing India's dominant bowling performance.
New Zealand's playing XI comprised Tim Seifert, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy and Blair Tickner.
India's playing XI featured Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Aqib Nabi, Gurjapneet Brar and Arshdeep Singh.
In the head-to-head record in ODI cricket, India and New Zealand have played 124 matches. India have won 64 games, while New Zealand have registered 52 victories. One match ended in a tie, and seven matches produced no result.
New Zealand's ODI squad for the first three matches includes Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Will Young, Blair Tickner and Henry Nicholls.
For the final two ODIs, New Zealand's squad comprises Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Lockie Ferguson, Mitch Hay (wicketkeeper), Nick Kelly, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Blair Tickner, Will Young and Dean Foxcroft.
India's updated squad for the first three ODIs includes Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy (for the first ODI only) and Aqib Nabi.
For the fourth and fifth ODIs, the updated Indian squad features Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper and vice-captain), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Aqib Nabi, Gurjapneet Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.
All five matches in the India-New Zealand ODI series are scheduled as day-night fixtures. Each match will begin at 7:30 am Indian Standard Time, 3 pm local time in New Zealand and 2 am in the United Kingdom.
The first ODI was played in Auckland on November 4, with India registering a five-wicket victory. The second match is scheduled for November 7 in Wellington, followed by the third ODI in Hamilton on November 10. The fourth and fifth matches will take place in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and November 15, respectively.
India's five-wicket victory in the series opener highlighted the impact of its bowling attack and Kohli's contribution during the rain-affected chase, giving the visitors an early lead in the five-match ODI series.
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