Tom Latham celebrates a stunning 95-ball hundred as the Black Caps cruise towards victory over India.

What a win. Certainly there was no understating it from New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson who hailed his side's "brilliant performance" in a six-wicket victory over India in Mumbai.

Man of the match Tom Latham and senior statesman Ross Taylor led the way with a 200-run partnership - the highest ODI fourth-wicket stand at Wankhede Stadium - as they overhauled India's 280-8 with an over to spare.

Latham was unbeaten on 103 off 102 balls, his fourth ODI century, after Taylor departed for a busy, purposeful knock of 95. In oppressive heat the pair battled cramp in their legs, galloped hard between wickets and slapped the stray deliveries to the fence to put the Black Caps 1-0 up in the three-match series.

DANISH SIDDIQUI/REUTERS Ross Taylor pushed the singles and rotated the strike expertly in his knock of 95 in a 200-run stand with Tom Latham.

"It's one of the best chases I've seen in the time I've been a Black Cap," Williamson said.

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DANISH SIDDIQUI/REUTERS Senior men Tom Latham and Ross Taylor plundered a 200-run fourth-wicket partnership - a record at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

"The way Tom Latham and Ross Taylor batted and controlled the middle superbly well and took the game right to the end… it was a special, special partnership."

It was just New Zealand's sixth 200-run stand in ODIs. Then, to sum up a confident, assured performance, Henry Nicholls casually lofted his first delivery from Bhuvneshwar Kumar over mid-wicket for four to ice the win.

India would have moved past South Africa to reclaim the world No 1 ranking with victory; instead they were stunned by New Zealand in their first international in fourth months since their early Champions Trophy exit.

DANISH SIDDIQUI/REUTERS In one of New Zealand's best ODI spells seen in India, Trent Boult was outstanding in the heat, snaring 4-35.

ODI wins in India don't happen often and this was the Black Caps' eighth from 33 attempts, to set up what could be their first series win in India a year after a 3-2 defeat.

Fast bowler Trent Boult set the tone with one of his best international spells - 4-35 off 10 overs - and despite Indian captain Virat Kohli's 31st century in his 200th ODI New Zealand's senior batsmen matched him.

"Ross and Tom were outstanding, they didn't give us any chances apart from a little run out in between. All in all they deserved to win," Kohli said.

DANISH SIDDIQUI/REUTERS The master salutes: India's captain Virat Kohi raises his century off Tim Southee.

"They tackled our spinners really well and against the fast bowlers they were watchful. We knew if we didn't pick up wickets it was one-way traffic."

Latham and Taylor joined up at 80-3 with the New Zealand innings wobbling and Williamson gone for six to Kuldeep Yadav's spin.

Latham hadn't batted at No 5 in an ODI since December 2014 but his shift down the order, as he returned to the wicketkeeping role, was a masterstroke.

Taylor took the lead, playing decisively and the pair rotated the strike to keep the Indian bowlers guessing.

Both batsmen only hit eight boundaries apiece while Latham hit two sixes as they had to earn their runs in a beautifully paced chase. Expert against spin, the left-hander also unveiled a reverse sweep or two.

Boult was outstanding for New Zealand, setting the tone with a sharp, lively opening spell of 5-1-7-2 in the furnace.

Consistently in the early 140kmh bracket, Boult attacked the stumps and swung the ball to have India's batsmen hopping about and never comfortable at a venue where runs usually overflow.

It meant that despite Kohli's 121 off 125 the hosts were restricted to well under 300 which gave the tourists plenty of belief as they cooled down at the interval.

Kohli felt they were 30 or 40 runs short, and New Zealand benefited from batting second.

"In the first half the way the wicket was playing was very different. After 20 overs in the second half the wicket settled down nicely and the dew came in."

New Zealand faces were various shades of purple as they battled 30degC-plus temperatures and 70 per cent humidity with ice packs and water on the boundary.

It got dire for allrounder Colin de Grandhomme who vomited on the field, which saw play held up before he completed his fourth over then departed for medical attention.

Mitchell Santner's spin (1-41 off 10) kept the brakes on despite Kohli's charge. Santner gave the skipper a big let-off on 29, dropping a sharp chance he should have held at short cover, but otherwise the New Zealand fielding was excellent as they hurled themselves about.

Boult returned to snare the big wickets of MS Dhoni (25 off 42) and dangerous allrounder Hardik Pandya (16 off 16), the latter to some Williamson brilliance.

The New Zealand skipper scuttled around from cover-point and dived to snare a stunning catch of Pandya which summed up a gutsy, committed performance in hostile climes.