After winning the T20I series by 3-2, the visitors India started the five-match ODI series against the hosts New Zealand with a crucial five-wicket victory in a rain-interrupted low-scoring battle. It was India's first ODI win in New Zealand since 2020, while India's previous ODI victory in New Zealand was recorded in Wellington on 3rd February 2019. With this win, India ended their six-match ODI winless streak in New Zealand.
After India chose to field first, New Zealand were bowled out for only 185 runs in 40.2 overs. As a result of multiple rain interruptions, India finally got a revised target of 143 runs in 32 overs, and the visitors chased down the target in 22.4 overs after losing five wickets.
In the Blackcaps innings, opener Tim Siefert (38), last batter Blair Tickner (34), and middle-order batters Glenn Phillips (30) and Daryl Mitchell (28) managed to reach the 20-run mark. Among the Indian bowlers, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh got four wickets (4/70), and the right-arm fast bowler Gurnoor Brar took three wickets (3/44), but the right-arm pacer Anshul Kamboj, the Player of the Match, was exceptional with the bowling figures of 10-2-22-2.
In reply, the former Indian captain Rohit Sharma (0) was dismissed for a duck in the first over. However, captain Shubman Gill had a strong 113-run second-wicket partnership with another former Indian skipper Virat Kohli to secure a strong win, despite a late batting-collapse scare. While Gill scored 37 off 56 balls (five fours), Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls with 13 fours and one six.
New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy had the brilliant bowling figures of 7-0-49-3, but it wasn’t enough for the hosts to snatch a surprise victory.
New Zealand 4th lowest ODI total vs India in New Zealand
New Zealand were bundled out for only 185 runs in 40.2 overs.
It was the fourth-lowest completed ODI total for New Zealand against India in New Zealand.
Lowest Completed ODI Totals for New Zealand vs India in New Zealand
Total (Overs) | Venue | Year |
142 (49.4) | Auckland | 1994 |
157 (38) | Napier | 2019 |
168 (42.4) | Wellington | 2003 |
185 (40.2) | Auckland | 2026 |
Virat Kohli equalled most 50+ scores records vs New Zealand
Virat Kohli scored 74 runs.
It was Kohli’s 18th 50+ ODI score against New Zealand. It was the joint-most ODI 50+ score by a batter against New Zealand, equalling the record of former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting.
It was Kohli’s 27th 50+ score against New Zealand in his international career. It was the joint-most 50+ score in international cricket by any batter against New Zealand, equalling the record of former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting and Pakistan star Babar Azam.