The story behind Arshdeep's special dance!

• Arshdeep Singh took 4 wickets as NZ was bowled out for 185
• The pacer dedicated his unique dance celebration to his girlfriend
• India must chase 183 to win the opening ODI of the five-match series

Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh produced a brilliant bowling performance and a heartwarming personal moment during the opening One-Day International against New Zealand at Eden Park on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old picked up four wickets as India restricted the hosts to 185 in 40.2 overs. It was after the wicket of Jamieson that Arshdeep broke into a light-hearted dance move.

The unusual steps immediately caught the attention of teammates and television viewers. In the mid-innings interview, the pacer explained the reason with a smile.

“That’s for my girlfriend. We do these dance steps when we’re out walking or something like that. Whenever the mood is a little low, we cheer each other up with that celebration. So this was for her,” Arshdeep said.

Arshdeep Singh said, “The celebration was for my girlfriend, a little bit dance we do.”

#NZvIND https://t.co/td6ZPeshdj

— SportsGully Cricket 🏏 (@sportsgullycric) November 4, 2026

 Arshdeep struck early in helpful conditions after India opted to bowl first. He removed Will Young and Henry Nicholls cheaply inside the powerplay, both for nine runs, putting New Zealand on the back foot. Later he returned to dismiss Kyle Jamieson and the dangerous Glenn Phillips, finishing with figures of 4 for 70 from his full quota of 10 overs. Gurnoor Brar (3 for 44) and Anshul Kamboj (2 for 22) provided strong support as the Indian attack exploited the overcast skies and movement off the pitch.

Arshdeep Singh’s four-wicket puts India on top against New Zealand

Speaking about the pitch and the overall effort, the left-arm pacer said that the surface offered assistance to the bowlers but felt India may have been a little greedy towards the end of the innings. His four-wicket haul marked a strong individual start to the five-match series and showed his importance in the white-ball setup. Arshdeep and Samreen made their relationship public in July 2026. 

Samreen has remained a steady presence during India’s tour of New Zealand, offering support through both the T20I series, which India won 3-2, and now the ODI series. The left-armer’s contribution with the ball and that memorable celebration set an early and positive tone for the series. The gesture quickly became one of the talking points of the day and went viral on social media. India will need to chase down 183 to win the opening match of the five match ODI series.