India scored a easy 40-run win over New Zealand in the first one-dayer at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Chasing a competitive target (277), the visitors could only muster 236 in 45.2 overs.
With India's 242 against Pakistan in 2007 being the highest total chased on this ground, the visitors had a tough task ahead of them when they stepped out to bat.
And New Zealand losing too many wickets and leaving too much for too late meant they were never going to pose any serious threats. The fact that the light was fading fast didn't help matters either.
Ross Taylor was the only New Zealand batsman to put up a semblance of a resistance. His 69-ball 66 was inclusive of three hits to the fence and an equal number over it.
At one stage (169 for eight), the visitors seemed set for a heavy defeat. But an aggressive 67-run (off 58 balls) ninth wicket stand between Kyle Mills (32) and Nathan McCullum (35) helped them put up a rearguard resistance and saved them the blushes.
S Sreesanth was India's most impressive bowler with figures of three for 30. Yuvraj Singh (three for 43) and R Ashwin (three for 50) provided adequate support.
It was a winning start for Gautam Gambhir as captain of Team India while also being Taylor's first loss in charge of New Zealand.
The Gift
Virat Kohli was named the man-of-the-match for his impressive 105. It was Kohli's second successive ODI hundred.
The Delhi player had hit 118 against Australia at Vishakhapatnam in his last ODI. This made him only the sixth Indian batsman to register successive hundreds in one-dayers.
Earlier, Taylor called correctly and New Zealand opted to bowl.
It is Gautam Gambhir's first match as India's captain. And he seemed confident in his new role.
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