Harshit Rana defended India's new ball bowling performance in the first ODI against New Zealand, stating that the team did not concede many runs and took wickets in the middle overs. Rana contributed two wickets and a quick 29 runs, helping India secure a four-wicket victory. Despite the win, a journalist questioned the team's new ball wicket-taking ability in Jasprit Bumrah's absence, a point Rana countered during the post-match press conference.