India captain Rohit Sharma praised Virat Kohli's ability to back himself and do the job for the team after India ended a 20-year wait for a win against the Kiwis in an ICC event with a four-wicket win, having last beat them in the 2003 World Cup.

When Suryakumar Yadav was run out for two in his maiden World Cup appearance after a mix up with Kohli, New Zealand sensed a turnaround.

But Kohli kept his calm and along with the left-handed Jadeja saw the team home. Kohli fell to Matt Henry in an attempt for the glory shot which would have given him another century. He leads the tournament batting charts with 340 runs.

"He (Kohli) has done this for us so many years. He backed himself to do the job," India captain Rohit Sharma said of his star batsman after the win.

"Kohli and Jadeja pulled us back when we lost a few wickets in the middle."

Mohammad Shami, who returned to the XI, set up victory with his second five-wicket haul in World Cups after he helped restrict New Zealand despite Mitchell's fifth ODI ton.

"Got a lot of confidence after taking a wicket on the first ball," Shami said after being named man of the match.

"It was important to pick those late wickets, you always want your team to be the top side. Very happy that I got those wickets and India is on top of the table."

Shami helped India pull things back in the final 10 overs in his first appearance at the tournament as New Zealand lost their eight wickets for 95 runs.