Virat Kohli's fighting 123-run knock failed to help India as New Zealand's Corey Anderson played a blistering innings and pacer Mitchell McClenaghan delivered a magical spell to help the home side defeat the visitors by 24 runs in the first match of the One Day International (ODI) series in Napier on Sunday.
After posting 292 on the scoreboard, New Zealand bowlers finished the job by bowling out India for 268 in 48.4 overs.
India's run chase received an early jolt as they lost Rohit Sharma (3) in the sixth over. Sharma played 23 balls before losing his wicket to McClenaghan.
Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan (32) added 58 runs in the second wicket partnership to stabilise the innings.
Corey Anderson gave the Black Caps their second success as he picked up Dhawan's wicket.
Ajinkya Rahane (7) and Suresh Raina (18) departed soon to leave India at 129 for four at the 29th over.
MS Dhoni (40) joined Kohli to re-build the innings which was tottering after losing few quick wickets.
Needing just 70 to win in eight overs, Indian spectators still hoped Dhoni and Kohli, who added 95 runs in the fifth wicket partnership, to easily reach the target of 293 runs.
McClenaghan, however, pulled the match back to New Zealand's favour by picking up the wickets of Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja (0) and Kohli in quick succession to reduce the 'Men in Blue' to 237 for seven.
The Black Caps removed tail fast to bowl out India for 268.
Corey Anderson was adjudged 'Man of the Match' for his all-round performance.
This was the first match India lost where Kohli hammered a century. He hit 11 boundaries and 2 sixes in his knock. This was Kohli's 18th century in his ODI career.
Earlier New Zealand posted 292 for seven in their 50 overs after India won the toss and elected to field first.
Kane Williamson (71), Ross Taylor (55) and New Zealand's new cricketing sensation Corey Anderson (68*)contributed for the home side.
Mohammed Shami picked up four wickets for India. India trail 1-0 in the series with this defeat.
Dhoni said losing three quick wickets 'hurt' the team.
"We were in the game, right till the end, but the wickets of Kohli, Jadeja and me that hurt us. It was important that one of us carried on till the end. We could have targeted the runs at the end, but we ran out of overs," Dhoni said.
Appreciating McClenaghan, New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum said: "Mitch did the job for us with the ball, and showed how vital he is to our side."
He said seeing Dhoni and Kohli for fighting for the team.
" It's a captain's nightmare when you have those two guys there, but the message was simple, try to find a way to get a wicket," McCullum said.