Anshul Kamboj played an important role as India kept New Zealand under pressure in the 1st ODI, with the visitors reduced to 151/7 in the 36th over. In a match where India were missing Jasprit Bumrah and did not have Prasidh Krishna or Harshit Rana available, Kamboj’s spell mattered because the bowling attack needed support from a less experienced group.
By the 31st over, New Zealand had reached 131/7 and Kamboj’s figures stood at 9-2-21-1. He kept at it, and that persistence helped India maintain control as the lower order was forced to rebuild under pressure.
Kamboj’s spell held up while India rotated through the attack
The key moment came as New Zealand tried to avoid a complete collapse. Mitchell Santner played on during the spell, and India continued to chip away at the lineup. Earlier, at 28.3 overs, Virat Kohli took a one-handed catch at second slip to dismiss Nathan Smith, another sign that India were making the most of every chance in the field.
Glenn Phillips was later caught by Shreyas Iyer, and that dismissal left New Zealand at 151/7 in the 36th over. By the 38th over, they had fallen to 181/9, with India having turned a tight phase of play into a much stronger position.
What Kamboj’s performance means
Kamboj’s contribution stood out because India were not operating with their full first-choice pace attack. In that setting, taking wickets and keeping the scoring down became especially valuable. His final return of 10-2-22-2 showed a spell built on patience, control and the ability to keep pressure on a batting side trying to recover.
With Kohli and Rohit Sharma central to India’s ODI series opener as senior batters, the bowling group’s job was to set the platform. Kamboj helped do exactly that, giving India a useful edge in the early part of the contest.
