NEW DELHI: India opened the three-match ODI series with a four-wicket win over New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday, though the chase turned tense after a late collapse. Virat Kohli led the pursuit with 93 off 91 balls, while captain Shubman Gill contributed 56 as India reached 306 for six in 49 overs to chase down the target of 301 against Black Caps.India were well placed for most of the chase and appeared in control until Kohli’s dismissal in the 40th over. At that stage, India needed 67 runs from 66 balls with seven wickets in hand. However, New Zealand struck back quickly, picking up wickets to put pressure on the hosts.

Kohli fell seven runs short of a century when Kyle Jamieson had him caught at mid-on. Jamieson then removed Shreyas Iyer for 49 with an off-cutter and dismissed Ravindra Jadeja for four, briefly swinging momentum New Zealand’s way. Despite the wobble, KL Rahul held firm at the end with an unbeaten 29. He added 37 runs with Harshit Rana, who scored 29, before India crossed the line with Washington Sundar, who was nursing an injury, staying not out on seven. New Zealand also missed chances in the closing stages, dropping catches that eased the pressure.With his knock, Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 28,000 runs in international cricket and moved past Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer overall, behind Sachin Tendulkar.Kohli batted fluently from the start, finding boundaries early in his innings against both pace and spin. He played confidently against leg-spinner Adithya Ashok, scoring freely, and survived a moment of fortune when an inside edge off debutant Kristian Clarke missed the leg stump. Kohli added 118 runs for the second wicket with Gill, anchoring the chase even during a stretch where boundaries were hard to come by.Gill took time to settle before bringing up his 16th ODI half-century. He later appeared uncomfortable, stretching his legs and receiving on-field treatment. Soon after play resumed, he was dismissed for 56 off 71 balls, hitting a googly from Adithya Ashok straight to mid-off. His innings included three fours and two sixes.Rohit Sharma gave India early momentum with 26, striking boundaries off Zakary Foulkes and Jamieson. He also reached 650 sixes in international cricket before being dismissed in the ninth over when Jamieson induced a mistimed shot.Earlier, New Zealand posted 300 for eight after being sent in. Daryl Mitchell top-scored with 84 off 71 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. He steadied the innings after a middle-order slide, following a solid opening stand between Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls. Conway made 56 off 67 balls, while Nicholls scored 62 off 69 as the pair added 117 runs for the first wicket.India pulled things back through Harshit Rana, whose second spell of 2 for 13 changed the course of the innings. New Zealand slipped from 117 without loss to 198 for five. Mitchell then rebuilt with support from the lower order, while debutant Kristian Clarke added a quick 24 not out off 17 balls to take New Zealand to the 300-run mark.India eventually completed the chase, but not without a late test from New Zealand’s bowlers.

Nandani Sharma (Screengrab)

NEW DELHI: A new name has taken the Women’s Premier League by storm. Her name is Nandani Sharma. The young fast bowler from Chandigarh delivered a stunning performance on Sunday night in Navi Mumbai. She played for Delhi Capitals in Match 4 against Gujarat Giants. Her spell of 5/33 created history in the WPL.Nandani Sharma became the first player in WPL history to take five wickets and a hat-trick in the same match. This achievement shocked fans and experts alike. No bowler had done this before in the league. Her performance completely changed the game.

Nandani produced her magic spell at a crucial moment. She picked up a hat-trick in a single over. The wickets came from the middle and lower order of the Gujarat Giants. The Giants were building momentum. Nandani stopped it instantly. Her pace troubled the batters. Her accuracy forced mistakes. The pressure kept rising with every ball.By the end of her spell, she had five wickets to her name. The Delhi Capitals bowling attack looked strong because of her. Gujarat Giants struggled to recover. The crowd reacted loudly to every wicket.Watch her hat-trick here:“I wanted to just bowl at my target. They (Shafali and Jemi) were talking to me every ball, and that was my plan (to bowl at the stumps). I did not expect it (a hat trick), but the team told me I could get wickets,” Nandani said to the broadcasters in the mid-innings break.“After my first over, I noticed that they were hitting my stock ball well. After that, I bowled my variations, and thankfully, it worked.”Nandani Sharma was born on September 20, 2001, in Chandigarh. She is 24 years old. She is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. She is known for bounce and movement with the new ball. Coaches have rated her highly for years.Her journey took time. She played for Chandigarh Women. She represented North Zone. She also played for India B. In 2025, she captained Chandigarh’s senior team. She impressed at the NCA Emerging Camp. WPL scouts took notice.Delhi Capitals signed her at the 2026 auction. They paid Rs 20 lakh for her. Her pace stood out immediately.She made her WPL debut a day earlier against Mumbai Indians. She took two wickets in that match. One of them was Nicola Carey. But her performance against Gujarat Giants changed everything.This spell marked her arrival. Batters will now prepare carefully for her. Indian women’s cricket may have found its next fast-bowling star.

Elon Musk who has spent years promoting and working on his ambitious Mars mission now says that he believes human death is a solvable problem. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO recently appeared on Moonshot podcast where he discussed extending human life — or even achieving “semi-immortality” — is a realistic scientific goal. “I’ve long thought that longevity or semi immortality is an extremely solvable problem,” Elon Musk said adding “I don’t think it’s a particularly hard problem.” Musk said he has long viewed ageing as something that could be changed with the right biological tools. During the podcast, Elon Musk claimed that the human body operates on a single ageing program which, he said, can be altered. The comments come at a time when several technology founders, including Sam Altman and Bryan Johnson, are investing in anti-ageing research and longevity startups.“When you consider the fact that your body is extremely synchronized in its age, the clock must be incredibly obvious”, Musk said, adding “nobody has an old left arm and a young writer.” “Why is that? What’s keeping them all in sync,” he asked. “It’s the way your pre programs die. And so if you change the program, you will live longer,” the tech billionaire said.

Tech leaders already investing in anti-ageing research

As mentioned above, other tech leaders are investing heavily in longevity projects. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is a major investor in Retro Biosciences, a longevity startup aimed at extending healthy human life by 10 years. In 2023, Altman confirmed that he has invested $180 million into the company.Tech millionaire is known for taking an extreme approach to anti-ageing. He spends millions every year on a detailed health routine that includes strict diets, sleep tracking, and medical tests. He also runs Blueprint, a project aimed at reversing biological age. Johnson regularly shares data showing results from treatments he claims have made parts of his body biologically younger.

In a high-octane encounter at the brand-new Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, India clinched a thrilling 4-wicket victory over New Zealand to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing a formidable target of 301, the Men in Blue relied on a masterclass from Virat Kohli and a fearless all-round cameo from Harshit Rana to cross the line with six balls to spare.

Earlier in the day, the Kiwis posted 300/8 behind Daryl Mitchell’s counter-attacking 84, but India’s resilience ensured a perfect start to their 2026 home season. The match was highlighted by Kohli reaching the monumental milestone of 28,000 international runs on his daughter’s 5th birthday. Despite a late wobble where India slipped to 242/5, the composure of the lower order saw the hosts home in a final-over finish. This victory marks India’s first ODI win at this venue, setting a dominant tone for the rest of the series.

IND vs NZ, 1st ODI: Virat Kohli masterclass and the historic 28,000 milestone

After the early departure of Rohit Sharma for 26, Kohli walked out to a deafening roar and immediately took control of the 301-run chase with surgical precision. He anchored the innings with a brilliant 93 off 91 balls, punishing any width from the Kiwi pacers and manipulating the gaps with his trademark wristy flick.

During this innings, Kohli became the fastest player in history to reach 28,000 international runs, achieving the feat in just his 624th innings, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. His 123-run partnership with Shubman Gill (56) neutralized the New Zealand spin attack and placed India in a position of absolute command by the 30th over. Even as he neared a century, Kohli maintained a high strike rate, ensuring the required run rate never climbed beyond reach despite the mounting pressure of the chase.

However, just as a hundred seemed certain, he was caught brilliantly by Michael Bracewell off Kyle Jamieson, leaving the stadium in stunned silence. Despite missing out on the personal milestone of a century, his innings provided the bedrock upon which India’s victory was built. Kohli’s presence at the crease acted as a stabilizer for Shreyas Iyer, who played a supporting role of 49 to keep the scoreboard ticking. This knock further solidified his status as the premier ;chase master’ of the modern era, especially on such a significant personal date.

Also WATCH: IND vs NZ: Shreyas Iyer sends Michael Bracewell packing with a rocket throw during Vadodara ODI

IND vs NZ, 1st ODI: Harshit Rana’s all-round heroics stun the Black Caps

Harshit emerged as the unsung hero of the match, delivering a clutch performance with both ball and bat to tilt the game in India’s favour. In the first innings, it was Rana who provided the critical breakthrough by dismissing both set openers, Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls, in successive overs to break a 117-run opening stand as he finished with figures of 2/65.

When he arrived at the crease with India needing 59 runs from 45 balls and the specialist batters back in the pavilion, Rana showed remarkable temperament for a young all-rounder. He played a fearless cameo of 29 runs off just 23 deliveries, including a massive six over long-on that shifted the momentum back toward the hosts. His ability to find boundaries at the death relieved the pressure on KL Rahul, allowing the senior pro to eventually seal the game in the penultimate over.

Although Rana was dismissed in the 47th over, his contribution had already reduced the equation to a manageable run-a-ball scenario. Combined with his early wickets, this performance has firmly established Rana as a serious contender for the seam-bowling all-rounder spot. His energy in the field and defiance under pressure were the final ingredients India needed to overcome a disciplined New Zealand unit.

Here’s how fans reacted: 

It’s difficult to compare era because I didn’t watch Richards and Sachin faced far more difficult conditions, but Kohli’s by far the most dominant ODI batsmen I’ve ever seen.

Fact he’s still doing it is bonkers.

— Neal Gardner (@Nealbackup) January 11, 2026

Virat’s batting right now is a joy to watch. The freedom, the ease, and the happiness he is playing with shows just how much he is enjoying the game.#INDvNZ

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) January 11, 2026

Rarely will you see Virat Kohli getting out like that in the 90s in an ODI. It was 100
written all over it tonight, the typical ODI template Virat has championed.
Never mind, he will get it any game he wants to the way he’s been batting in ODIs recently.
Just that today also… pic.twitter.com/AyKcWoFWDX

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) January 11, 2026

Harshit Rana has been consistently giving India breakthrough. Dum hai.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 11, 2026

Harshit Rana shows what confidence can do to a pacer. Now he bowls fast, experiments with slower ball, swings the ball and isn’t scared to bowl the bouncer. Heartening sign for Indian cricket.

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 11, 2026

The eyes Chico, they never lie.
The glint in his eyes is back, so is the hunger. 5 consecutive 50+ scores. This is the Virat we know. Well played @imVkohli 👏👏😊 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/vmbvzcTVUQ

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 11, 2026

Still ruling. Still rising. Still HIM. 🐐

Virat Kohli kept the blade sharp and the standards higher than ever. 🔝

A classic chase master’s knock, 9️⃣3️⃣ while hunting it down today. 🎯#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/xHDBHq0B4I

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 11, 2026

Made us proud as usual, Harshit! 👏💙 pic.twitter.com/bAg3tYuZ7b

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) January 11, 2026

Well played, Harshit Rana. This is how you turn trolls into appreciation. Respect. pic.twitter.com/ucDp4SzQYV

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) January 11, 2026

45th Player-of-the-Match for Virat Kohli in ODIs 🫡🔥#ViratKohli #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/tENqPX0pih

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 11, 2026

Also WATCH: IND vs NZ: Prasidh Krishna cleans up Mitchell Hay with a jaffa in the first ODI

Google has expanded the shopping capabilities of its Gemini AI chatbot by partnering with major retailers including Walmart, Shopify and Wayfair, enabling users to browse and buy products directly within the chatbot, the company said on Sunday, AP reported.The move, announced on the opening day of the National Retail Federation’s annual convention in New York, positions Gemini as both a virtual shopping assistant and a transaction platform, allowing customers to complete purchases without leaving the chat interface.According to Google and Walmart, an instant checkout feature will let users buy products from participating retailers through multiple payment providers directly inside Gemini. Customers who link their Walmart and Gemini accounts will receive personalised recommendations based on past purchases, and items bought through the chatbot can be added to their existing Walmart or Sam’s Club online carts.“The transition from traditional web or app search to agent-led commerce represents the next great evolution in retail,” Walmart’s incoming president and CEO John Furner said in a joint statement with Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.Google said Gemini’s shopping feature can respond to product-related queries — such as recommendations for ski gear — by pulling items from participating retailers’ inventories and facilitating purchases within the same conversation.The announcement comes amid intensifying competition among tech giants to dominate AI-powered commerce. Google, OpenAI and Amazon are all racing to enable seamless shopping experiences that take users from product discovery to checkout within chatbots.OpenAI and Walmart unveiled a similar partnership in October, allowing ChatGPT users to purchase most items available on Walmart’s website through instant checkout, excluding fresh food. Ahead of the holiday shopping season, OpenAI also launched in-chat purchasing for select retailers and Etsy sellers.Salesforce estimates that artificial intelligence influenced $272 billion, or about 20 per cent, of global retail sales during the recent holiday season.Google said the AI-assisted shopping features in Gemini will initially be available only to users in the US, with international expansion planned in the coming months.

If fielding highlights had a recurring theme, Glenn Phillips would feature in most chapters. In Vadodara on Sunday, during the first ODI between India and New Zealand, Phillips came close to adding another moment to that collection, nearly pulling off a catch that would have removed Shubman Gill early in the chase.The moment came in the eighth over of India’s innings. Gill, batting on eight, attempted a cut shot off the fourth ball of Zak Foulkes’ over. The delivery was back of a length and outside the off stump. Gill stayed back and hit the ball hard towards the backward point region. Phillips moved quickly to his left, jumped and stretched out his left hand while airborne. He almost completed the catch but closed his palm a fraction early, and the ball fell short. The effort surprised many, and Virat Kohli was seen reacting from the dressing room.Earlier, New Zealand posted 300 for 8 in their allotted overs after choosing to bat first in the opening ODI in Vadodara.Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with 84 off 71 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. His knock helped New Zealand recover after losing wickets in the middle overs. Mitchell came in after a solid opening stand between Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls.Conway scored 56 off 67 balls, including six fours and a six, while Nicholls made 62 off 69 deliveries with eight fours. The pair added 117 runs for the first wicket and kept India in check for the first 21 overs.India struck back through Harshit Rana, whose second spell changed the course of the innings. Rana finished with figures of 2 for 65, including two wickets in a spell of 2 overs for 13 runs. From 117 without loss in the 22nd over, New Zealand slipped to 198 for five by the 38th.Mitchell then built partnerships to steady the innings. Debutant Kristian Clarke provided support towards the end, scoring an unbeaten 24 off 17 balls, which included three fours, as New Zealand crossed the 300-run mark.