Overview
- India lead New Zealand 1–0 after a four-wicket win in Vadodara, built on Virat Kohli’s 93 in a 301 chase.
- Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the series with a rib/side strain and replaced by Ayush Badoni, while Rishabh Pant’s injury layoff has led to Dhruv Jurel’s call-up.
- Kohli enters the second ODI with five successive ODI fifty-plus scores and as the second-highest international run-scorer, with another fifty set to create an India record; R. Ashwin praised his uncluttered mindset.
- The second ODI is scheduled for Wednesday in Rajkot, with team balance expected to hinge on a Badoni versus Nitish Kumar Reddy decision.
- Beyond the ODIs, Saurashtra reached the Vijay Hazare Trophy semifinals via Harvik Desai’s unbeaten 100, and the India Open Super 750 opened in Delhi with challenging early draws for home players and men’s doubles pair Satwik–Chirag viewed as the best podium bet.