Cheered from the sidelines by one of the biggest Bollywood stars, India stamped their mark as the rock stars of world cricket as they demolished New Zealand by an imposing 53 runs in the first of the five one-day internationals in Napier yesterday.
Bollywood actress Preity Zinta watched and cheered as India amassed 273 for four in the match reduced to 38 overs because of rain at McLean Park.
New Zealand closed on 162 for nine in the match interrupted by two rain breaks.
Members of both teams donned black bands at the break after learning of the attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan.
The attack left six policemen dead and several Sri Lankan players injured.
"It is one of the darkest days in world cricket," Preity Zinta told reporters at McLean Park.
Zinta, an avid cricket fan, is owner of the Kings XI Punjab team in the Indian Premier League.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni top scored with an unbeaten 84 from 89 balls studded with six boundaries while Virender Sehwag pounded 77 and Suresh Raina 66.
Ian Butler marked his comeback to international cricket with the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, dismissing the star batsman with the fourth ball of his first ODI since December 2004.
Tendulkar, who made 20 from 23 balls on his tour debut, hinted at just getting into his stride when he feathered an edge to Brendon McCullum's gloves.
Although Tendulkar remained the star attraction, Sehwag took top billing in a batting sense by bludgeoning a typically boundary-laden half century either side of a 2-1/2 hour rain break.
While Tendulkar faced 17 balls before finding the ropes, Sehwag instantly reprised his form in the Twenty20s by taking two boundaries from Kyle Mills' opening over, the first of the innings.
Sehwag raced to his 34th ODI half century with his eighth boundary - off just 37 balls - and was closing in on his 11th one-day hundred when Ross Taylor took a magnificent low catch at extra cover to remove the belligerent opener for 77.
Sehwag's departure when the score was 121 in the 19th over coincided with an understandable slackening in the scoring rate as Dhoni, who promoted himself to first drop, initially struggled against the spin of Daniel Vettori.
The run out of Yuvraj Singh (2) due to smart fielding from Martin Guptill took more impetus from the Indian assault and Butler also contributed to the mini-malaise with a rare maiden.
However, Dhoni eventually justified his elevation by posting a half century from 66 balls with his fourth boundary before accelerating as New Zealand's attack lost their discipline.
Raina rocketed to his half century in 31 balls after clubbing three boundaries and a trio of sixes - including two off the unfortunate Mills.
Dhoni and Raina plundered 40 from the reduced three-over batting power play from the 29th over, advancing the score to 204, and eventually added 110 for the fourth wicket in 74 balls before Raina, who made his runs from 39 balls, skied Grant Elliott to O'Brien.
Elliott was summoned after Mills, making his return from an Achilles tendon strain, was collared for 69 off seven overs.
The second match of the five-game series is scheduled for Wellington on Friday.