After electing to bowl first, the Indians cruised to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala.
The Indian seamers came to the party early on, reducing the Blackcaps to 48-5 with Hardik Pandya picking up three wickets on his ODI debut. Part-time spinner Kedar Jadhav then snared two scalps in as many deliveries as New Zealand were in dire straits at 65-7.
A 71-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Tom Latham and Tim Southee brought some respectability to the visitors’ total. Both Latham and Southee would score half-centuries, with the former carrying his bat.
India lost four wickets during their chase, but never looked in real trouble at any stage. Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 85 as the Indians romped home in 33.1 overs.
Here, we collected the top tweets from the first ODI.
Haazme ki goli, Rangon ki holi,
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 16, 2016
Aur batting me kohli
Poore India ko pasand hain
Credit to the pitch in Dharamshala and to the Indian bowlers for exploiting it...pace and bounce. Clipped Kiwi's wings #INDvNZ
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 16, 2016
Unbelievable start!!Well done @hardikpandya7 and @y_umesh
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) October 16, 2016
Another run-chase for Virat. Actually a run-stroll.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 16, 2016
Indian fans are looking closely at Dhoni & Kohli for even a hint of a possible rift. "See cold acknowledgement, not even smiling" 😂 #indvsnz
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) October 16, 2016
" Currently nobody plays me better than you my dear Virat Kohli " ~ Cover Drive
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) October 16, 2016
Kohli has to be the best batsman in the world right now? I don't mean based on rankings just by the naked eye.
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) October 16, 2016
Kohli wins the match for India with a six. Virat Kohli - The Untold Story.
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) October 16, 2016
Might be a Sunday but the Chase Master's office is open! That cover drive..now for a helicopter from the other end? #IndvNZ #KentCricketLive
— jatin sapru (@jatinsapru) October 16, 2016
Kohli and Manish Pandey batting, Southee bowling, Kane Williamson is the New Zealand captain. Flashbacks of U19 World Cup 2008 #IndvNZ
— Shubh Aggar'Wall' (@shubh_chintak) October 16, 2016
3 wickets in his debut ODI & they build expectations of Hardik Pandya as though they have discovered the next Kapil Dev + Richard Hadlee.
— $ir^$ri Aditya Magal (@jhunjhunwala) October 16, 2016
