IND vs NZ ODI: New Zealand Beat India by 41 Runs

IND vs NZ ODI: Mitchell, Phillips and Virat Kohli score centuries in thrilling series-deciding ODI

The third and final ODI of the India vs New Zealand series was played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on January 18, 2026. With both teams having won one match each earlier, this game served as the all-important series decider. Fans witnessed an exciting contest filled with big runs, strong performances, and key turning points.

New Zealand Post 337 After Strong Batting Display

First, New Zealand came out to bat with positive intent and posted a commanding 337 runs for 8 wickets in 50 overs. Although the innings began on a shaky note, the visitors recovered quickly and took control.

Early in the innings, Devon Conway was dismissed for 5 runs, while Henry Nicholls failed to open his account. Despite these early losses, New Zealand stayed calm. Will Young added 30 runs, but the momentum truly shifted soon after.

Then, Daryl Mitchell played a superb innings. He scored 137 runs off 131 balls, hitting 15 fours and 3 sixes. He batted with patience and confidence, held the innings together, and steadily built pressure on the Indian bowlers.

At the other end, Glenn Phillips played an attacking knock. He smashed 106 runs from 88 balls, which included 9 fours and 3 sixes, and brought up his century in style.

Later, captain Mitchell Bracewell added a quick 28 runs, while Kris Clarke chipped in with 11 runs. In the end, New Zealand crossed the 330-run mark comfortably and set India a challenging target.

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Indian Bowlers Pick Wickets but Runs Flow Freely

For India, Arshdeep Singh emerged as one of the standout bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 63 runs. Harshit Rana also picked up 3 wickets, though he conceded 84 runs. Despite these efforts, the Indian bowlers found it difficult to contain the scoring on a batting-friendly surface.

India Struggle After Early Losses in the Chase

After that, India began their chase but failed to build early partnerships. Rohit Sharma scored 11 runs, while Shubman Gill made 23 before getting out. Soon after, Shreyas Iyer was dismissed for 3 runs, and KL Rahul followed with just 1 run.

Because of these early setbacks, India fell behind the required run rate and came under pressure.

Virat Kohli Leads the Fight with Gritty Hundred

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli stood tall in difficult conditions and kept India’s hopes alive. He played a composed and responsible innings, scoring 124 runs from 108 balls, which included 10 fours and 3 sixes.

Even as wickets continued to fall at the other end, Kohli remained calm and fought till the end, trying to take India closer to the target.

Lower Order Shows Fight but Chase Ends Early

Later, Nitish Kumar Reddy supported Kohli well, scoring 53 runs from 57 balls. After that, Harshit Rana surprised everyone with a quick 52 runs off 43 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes.

However, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj could not add many runs in the final phase of the chase. As a result, India were bowled out for 296 runs in 46 overs.

New Zealand Bowlers Seal the Match

New Zealand’s bowlers struck at key moments during the chase. Kristian Clarke and Zak Foulkes picked up three wickets each, which helped their team maintain control and close out the match.

New Zealand Clinch ODI Series

In the end, New Zealand won the match by 41 runs and clinched the ODI series. Despite Virat Kohli’s fighting century, India could not chase down the big target.

Overall, the series decider turned into a memorable contest, highlighted by centuries from Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Virat Kohli, making it an exciting and fitting finish to the ODI series.