IndiaFielding standards hit another high First ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara On 11 January. At a stage where every run mattered, Shreyas Iyer Producing a moment of utter genius in the depths. His keen awareness and athletic execution turned the momentum firmly in India’s favour. run out of Michael Bracewell This turned out to be one of the defining moments of the visiting team’s innings.
IND vs NZ, 1st ODI: Shreyas Iyer’s sharp straight hit to dismiss Michael Bracewell puts momentum in India’s favor
The decisive moment came in the 43rd over, bowled by Harshit RanaNew Zealand is trying to slow down the death toll. Rana bowled a yorker length ball. darryl mitchell Could only go towards long-on, leading to a risky second run. Bracewell responded quickly, knowing the importance of maximizing every opportunity in the final overs. Iyer, stationed near the border, immediately anticipated the danger and attacked without hesitation. His pick-up was clean despite the ball coming at a fast pace, and in one fluid motion he delivered a powerful throw straight to the non-striker’s end.
The throw was flat, fast and the arrow hit the stumps directly, giving Bracewell no margin for error. Even a dive could not save the New Zealand captain, who was left inches short of his crease. The crowd erupted as replays confirmed what the naked eye had already seen, a perfect direct hit under pressure. It was the kind of out that enthused the entire fielding unit and infused new energy into the team. India quickly sensed the change and tightened the noose in the remaining overs. That single act of brilliance not only removed a key batsman but also sent a clear message about India’s intent in the field.
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Returning from injury and contributing every moment on the field!#INDvNZ1st ODI live now 👉 https://t.co/WbMZTXL0By pic.twitter.com/oyFowZB4qH
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) 11 January 2026
See also: IND vs NZ: Prasidh Krishna clean bowled Mitchell Hay from Jaffa in the first ODI
IND vs NZ, 1st ODI: Daryl Mitchell’s counter-attack revives Blackcaps after Indian bowlers’ defeat
New Zealand posted a very competitive 300/8 in 50 overs in the first ODI in Vadodara, staging a spectacular comeback after India threatened to derail their innings in the middle stages. Opting to bowl first at the new Kotambi Stadium, India struggled to find success early on devon conway And henry nichols Navigated the new ball relatively easily.
The Kiwi openers stitched a brilliant partnership of 117 runs, with both batsmen scoring well-earned half-centuries, laying a solid foundation for a big score. However, Rana’s arrival led to the team’s downfall, as the young fast bowler brought India back into the contest by dismissing both the openers in quick succession. spin twins of india, -Kuldeep Yadav And Ravindra JadejaThen the screws tightened, the boundaries dried up and the middle-order faltered, allowing New Zealand to slip from a strong position to 237/6.
As the momentum looked in favor of the hosts, darryl mitchell Took control of the situation by playing a tremendous counter-innings of 84 runs in just 71 balls. Mitchell’s innings was a masterclass in modern ODI batting, as he often used his feet to counter the spinners and hit two massive sixes to keep the scoreboard ticking at a healthy pace. Also as partners like Bracewell and glen phillips After falling at the other end, Mitchell remained the anchor, ensuring that the visitors crossed the 250-run mark.
Flurry of wickets in death overs Mohammad Siraj And Prasidh Krishna In short, India were expected to keep the target below 280, but the debutant provided some late fireworks Christian Clark And kyle jamison Proved to be important. In the final over, New Zealand scored exactly 300 with 14 runs left, a score that has not been achieved often in historic debuts at this venue. For India, the fast bowling trio of Rana, Siraj and Krishna took two wickets each, but they would regret some costly overs in the end.
See also: IND vs NZ – Harshit Rana deceives Henry Nicholls with a brilliant slower ball in the 1st ODI
