India's juggernaut in the Southern Hemisphere continues as they have comprehensively defeated New Zealand in the second ODI at Mount Maunganui by 90 runs. This victory is Team India's first ever on Republic Day.

Earlier in the day, Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first. He spoke about trying to set a total and throwing up the challenge of defending scores to his bowlers. Kohli's team got a terrific start as the opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put on a massive 154-run stand. Both batsmen got half-centuries and Rohit was unlucky to miss out on his 23rd ODI ton.

Kohli and Ambati Rayudu also contributed but the score was propelled to 324 largely due to the finishing brilliance of MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav. Dhoni scored an unbeaten 48 off 33 balls while Jadhav finished with 22 off 10.

India cricket team
India defeated New Zealand convincingly in the first ODI in Napier.MARTY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images

Defending 325, New Zealand did not get off to a good start as the Indian pacers got into the middle order early. Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Martin Guptill and then Kane Williamson chopped on a Mohammed Shami delivery.

Following that, the spinners once again took over. First, Yuzvendra Chahal removed Colin Munro and then Dhoni's lightning hands had Ross Taylor stumped off Jadhav.

It was the Kuldeep Yadav show after that. His first wicket has a lesson in guile and flight as he trapped Tom Latham plumb in front by beating him in the air. He followed it up by outfoxing Colin de Grandhomme who was in a mood to attack. His next two wickets were of successive deliveries as he dismissed Henry Nicholls and followed it up by bowling Ish Sodhi down the leg side.

A late charge from Doug Bracewell provided some entertainment to the crowd but proved to be academic in the grand scheme of things as Bhuvneshwar and Chahal knocked off the last two New Zealand wickets.  

Twitterati went crazy with joy as India created history by winning their maiden match on January 26.