Dhoni standing up to Bhuvneshwar takes a beauty of a catch after a thick edge from the bat of McCullum.
B McCullum c †Dhoni b Kumar 30 (25b 4x4 0x6)
Anderson and Brendon take Ishant to the cleaners getting 17 runs off his 7th over.
The fastest century maker in ODIs Corey Anderson sends Ishant outside the ground with a lofty hit over mid-wicket.
Shami brought back into the attack gets the prized wicket of Taylor as he flashes at a wide ball and Dhoni dives to claim his 300th dismissal in ODIs, becoming only the first Indian and fourth wicket-keeper to achieve this feat.
R Taylor c Dhoni b Mohammed Shami 55 (82b 1x4 0x6)
Jadeja finally gets the breathrough ending Williamson and Taylor's 121-run partnership.
A brilliant knock by Williamson comes to an end. His 71 coming off 88 balls. NZ 153 for 3 after 33 overs.
K Williamson c Rahane b Jadeja 71 (88b 7x4 0x6)
Taylor and Williamson bring up the 100-run partnership from 131 balls.
Jadeja and Ashwin dry up the runs for the Kiwis conceding just singles and twos.
Williamson notches his 7th half century from 50ODIs.
After two early setbacks, New Zealand make a comeback and at the halfway stage are 112 for 2.
India's attack looks ordinary now as both batsmen start milking the bowlers.
Williamson and Taylor steady New Zealand with a 50-run partnership.
Taylor reaches 4,000 runs from 133 ODIs and it's drinks break.
After a sedate start Williamson ups the tempo.
Williamson hits two chip shots over mid-wicket and mid-on areas for runs as Taylor gives him good company.
Two welcome boundaries for New Zealand as Williamson hits Ishant off his pads through mid-wicket. Then Taylor clips him off his toes down fine leg.
Williamson and Taylor take the Kiwis to 50 without further damage.
India introduce spin in the form of Jadeja.
Williamson opens his arms a bit standing tall to drive Ishant Sharma for a couple of runs.
Indian bowlers maintain a tight leash on the Kiwi batsmen conceding less than four runs per over in the first 10.
With runs drying up Guptill tries to go after Shami, flashing hard at the bowler only to give Ashwin a chest-high catch at first slip.
M Guptill c Ashwin b Mohammed Shami 8 (23b 1x4 0x6)
Martin Guptill breaks the shackles with a classy boundary through mid-off of Bhuvneshwar.
Shami gets his revenge clean bowling Ryder, again exposing the left-hander on his off-side. No footwork there from Ryder and India are happy to see the back of him.
J Ryder b Mohammed Shami 18 (16b 3x4 1x6)
The aggressive Ryder means business, slamming Mohammed Shami for back-to-back fours.
Jesse Ryder is on the ball picking Bhuvneshwar Kumar's sixth ball off his legs for a six.
Dhoni goes in with more or less a predictable side leaving Stuart Binny as the 12th man, while Brendon McCullum makes two changes from the side that played West Indies recently. Adam Milne gets a look-in as Kyle Mills and James Neesham are dropped.
Teams:
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, Martin Guptill, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys will begin the defence of their World Cup title next year which the Kiwis will co-host with Australia.
The reigning world champions will also be looking to defend their number one ranking, in this format of the game, against the eighth-ranked hosts.
India must win the series if they are to retain their No.1 status in the ICC ODI team rankings.
India are sitting atop the ICC team rankings table with 120 ratings points.
If India lose the series, they will lose their No.1 ranking and as many as six ratings points.
India have been the top ranked ODI side since January 2013, having replaced England at the top.
Dhoni said he will not be taking the Black Caps lightly.
India will play two Tests and five one-dayers against the New Zealanders, in a tour itinerary shortened by one Test and one Twenty 20 due to India’s participation in the Asia Cup in late February.
“They will be a fantastic side,” he told reporters after the side arrived in Auckland. “They’ve got good bowlers in the side now. I would rather go into the series not taking the New Zealand team lightly. Especially at home, they’ll know the conditions better than us and for some who have not played here it will be a challenge.”
Dhoni said the series would be a good for experience since the World Cup will be hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand.
"It's good exposure for our players who have not played in New Zealand before. So it will be a good experience for them. In turn, it will be good for the team because we will have players who have already played in these conditions and particularly at venues where we will be playing the 2015 World Cup," said the Indian captain.
Teams (from):
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Martin Guptill, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson.
India: MS Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Stuart Binny, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishwar Pandey, Varun Aaron, Amit Mishra.