India, Jan. 12 -- Harshit Rana might have faced brickbats last year for being chosen in all three formats of the game, but the bowling all-rounder is slowly but surely making a place for himself. The 24-year-old from Delhi once again stepped up, taking two wickets and scoring a crucial 29 off 23 balls to help the hosts win the first ODI against New Zealand by four wickets at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday. He came ever so close to winning the Player of the Match, but in the end, the accolade went to Virat Kohli and deservedly so, as the latter returned with 93 runs in the chase of 301.

The first ODI did not get off to an ideal start for India, as New Zealand's openers, Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls, put on 117 runs. However, Ran...