India celebrated the momentous occasion of their 900th ODI with a comprehensive 6 wickets win over New Zealand in the 1st ODI at Dharmasala yesterday. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is blessed with the Midas touch and everything he touched turned to gold. He won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bowl on a pitch that was expected to be a batting paradise, but would provide some assistance for the fast bowlers.

Hardik Pandya was making his ODI debut and Dhoni made him share the new ball with Umesh Yadav. In Pandya’s very first over, he was struck for 3 fours by Martin Guptill. However, off the last ball he had Guptill caught by Rohit Sharma at second slip. In the 5th over, the New Zealand skipper Williamson, slashed Umesh Yadav straight to Amit Mishra at third man and New Zealand were reduced to 29/2. In Yadav’s next over he bowled an unplayable outswinger to Ross Taylor who edged it to Dhoni and the Kiwis were in deep trouble at 33/3. Umesh Yadav pulled off a brilliant catch off the bowling of Hardik Pandya to dismiss the dangerous Corey Anderson and New Zealand were staring down the barrel.

There was a flurry of wickets as the Kiwis were reduced to 106/8. Tim Southee played a quick fire innings of 55 off just 45 balls studded with 6 fours and 3 sixes to give good support to Tom Latham who until that point was playing a lone hand. The pair put on 71 in less than 10 overs before Southee was caught by Manish Pandey off the bowling of Mishra trying to hit another six. New Zealand were soon bowled out for 190 off 43.5 overs. Tom Latham carried his bat scoring an unbeaten 79 off 98 balls with 7 fours and a six. Hardik Pandya had a sensational debut taking 3 wickets off his 7 overs, conceding just 31 runs. Jasprit Bumrah also bowled an economical spell, giving away just 29 runs off his 8 overs. India needed 191 to win to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane both started positively and went after the bowling. The Hitman pulled Southee for a six over fine leg. In Bracewell’s next over, Rahane pulled him for 2 huge sixes over fine leg and deep square leg respectively. Rohit was dismissed in the 10th over when he tried to hoist Doug Bracewell over mid-wicket and was palpably LBW. Kohli immediately drove James Neesham past cover point for a four to open his account. In Neesham’s next over, Rahane chased a wide delivery and edged it to Luke Ronchi and India were 62/2.

Manish Pandey was the next man to fall when he tried to whip Ish Sodhi over mid-wicket, but picked out Williamson who took an easy catch and India were reduced to 102/3. Dhoni came to the crease and joined his deputy Kohli. Kohli continued to find the boundary with ease and the pair ran like hares between the wickets. Dhoni also got into his stride pulling Neesham for a huge six over fine leg. Kohli soon reached his fifty, punching Southee for a single to deep cover. In the next over by Southee, Kohli struck him for 2 fours off the first two deliveries, but was lucky to survive a caught and bowled chance off the third delivery.

Dhoni was run out when he played the ball towards cover. Kohli initially responded to Dhoni’s call but then sent him back and Dhoni was stranded in the middle of the pitch. However, at that stage India were firmly in control of the match and needed just 29 runs for victory. Jadhav struck a couple of fours and Kohli led India to victory when he hit Sodhi straight over the bowlers head for a six to enable India to take a 1-0 lead in the series. He was unbeaten on 85. Pandya was named the Man of the Match for his economical spell of 7-0-31-3. He became the 4th Indian to win the Man of the Match on his ODI debut. The 2nd ODI will be played at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on the 20th of October.