The India vs nz cricket rivalry witnessed a historic moment in Indore as New Zealand defeated India by 41 runs to seal their first-ever One Day International series victory on Indian soil. Powered by brilliant centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, New Zealand overcame a valiant hundred from Virat Kohli to win the three-match series 2–1, creating a landmark achievement in their cricketing history.
This victory comes just over a year after New Zealand won their maiden Test series in India, further underlining their growing dominance and adaptability in challenging subcontinental conditions.
Score Summary: New Zealand vs India, 3rd ODI
- New Zealand: 337/8 (50 overs)
- Daryl Mitchell – 137
- Glenn Phillips – 106
- Arshdeep Singh – 3/63
- Harshit Rana – 3/84
- India: 296 all out (48.5 overs)
- Virat Kohli – 124
- Nitish Kumar Reddy – 53
- Harshit Rana – 52
- Kristian Clarke – 3/54
- Zak Foulkes – 3/77
Result: New Zealand won by 41 runs
Series Result: New Zealand won the series 2–1
New Zealand Create History in India
Arriving in India with a squad severely affected by injuries, New Zealand were not considered favorites at the start of the series. After losing the opening ODI, they made a remarkable comeback to win the next two matches and clinch the series.
What makes this achievement even more special is that it marked India’s first defeat in 14 home ODIs after winning the toss, highlighting the scale of New Zealand’s accomplishment.
In the context of India vs nz cricket, this series will be remembered as a turning point where New Zealand proved their ability to dominate even in traditionally difficult Indian conditions.
Mitchell and Phillips Lay the Perfect Foundation
The cornerstone of New Zealand’s victory was an extraordinary fourth-wicket partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.
Coming together at a precarious 58 for 3, the duo stitched a commanding 219-run stand, completely shifting the momentum in New Zealand’s favor.
Daryl Mitchell – India’s Familiar Nemesis
Mitchell once again tormented Indian bowlers with a sublime innings of 137 runs, registering:
- His second century of the series
- His fourth ODI hundred against India
- His fourth century on Indian soil
Mitchell’s ability to dominate both pace and spin was on full display. He attacked Kuldeep Yadav early, even stepping out to his first delivery for a straight six, setting the tone for New Zealand’s middle-overs dominance.
Glenn Phillips’ Explosive Century
While Mitchell played the anchor, Glenn Phillips provided the acceleration. Phillips smashed a stunning 106 off just 88 balls, bringing up his second ODI century with fearless strokeplay.
At one stage, Phillips raced from 21 off 36 balls to his hundred in just 83 deliveries, clearing the small Holkar Stadium boundaries with ease and showing exceptional hand speed against spin and pace alike.
Their partnership ensured New Zealand crossed the 330-run mark, a challenging total even on a high-scoring Indore pitch.
India’s Bowling Struggles in the Middle Overs
India’s spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, were surprisingly ineffective. Both bowled just six overs each, conceding a combined 89 runs, as New Zealand’s batters attacked them relentlessly.
India delayed introducing Jadeja until the 30th over, opting instead for Nitish Kumar Reddy’s medium pace. While Reddy bowled economically early on, he eventually faded, allowing New Zealand to maintain momentum.
Despite a strong finish from Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who took three wickets each, New Zealand still managed to post 337, a formidable total under pressure.
India’s Chase Falters Despite Kohli’s Brilliance
Chasing 338, India’s innings got off to a disastrous start. New Zealand’s bowlers struck early, reducing the hosts to 71 for 4, exposing a fragile middle order missing Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya.
Yet, as has so often been the case in India vs nz cricket, Virat Kohli stood tall.
Virat Kohli’s Masterclass Under Pressure
Kohli produced a magnificent 124-run innings, scoring his 54th ODI century, and almost pulled off a miraculous chase.
His innings unfolded in three distinct phases:
- Aggressive Start: Kohli began aggressively, attacking fast bowlers and racing to 30-plus quickly with four boundaries and a six.
- Rebuilding Phase: With wickets falling, he shifted gears, focusing on strike rotation and stability, scoring steadily with minimal risk.
- Final Assault: When India required nearly nine runs per over, Kohli exploded, reaching his century off just 91 balls.
Youngsters Support Kohli’s Lone Fight
Kohli received admirable support from two young seam-bowling all-rounders:
- Nitish Kumar Reddy – 53
- Harshit Rana – 52
The pair added a crucial 99-run partnership for the seventh wicket, briefly reviving India’s hopes and threatening to spoil New Zealand’s celebrations.
Rana, in particular, impressed with a fearless half-century off just 41 balls, combining power with composure.
New Zealand Bowlers Hold Their Nerve
With the equation down to 46 runs needed off 27 balls, the match hung in the balance. However, once Kohli was dismissed as the ninth wicket, New Zealand regained control.
Different bowlers contributed at different stages:
- Kyle Jamieson troubled Indian batters with movement and bounce.
- Jayden Lennox, playing only his second ODI, impressed with figures of 2/42.
- Zak Foulkes and Kristian Clarke picked up three wickets each.
- Glenn Phillips bowled eight economical overs in Michael Bracewell’s absence.
Collectively, New Zealand’s bowlers executed their plans perfectly under pressure.
Another Chapter Added to India vs NZ Cricket Rivalry
The Indore ODI reaffirmed why the India vs nz cricket rivalry remains one of the most competitive in modern international cricket. New Zealand’s tactical discipline, fearless batting, and composure under pressure stood in contrast to India’s inconsistent bowling and middle-order concerns.
Despite Virat Kohli’s heroic effort, India fell short, highlighting the team’s reliance on individual brilliance rather than collective performance.
What This Series Win Means for New Zealand
This series victory is more than just a statistical achievement for New Zealand. It symbolizes:
- Growing confidence in Asian conditions
- Strong bench strength despite injuries
- Tactical maturity against top-ranked teams
Winning an ODI series in India has historically been one of the toughest challenges in world cricket, and New Zealand have now conquered that frontier.
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conclusion
The Indore ODI will be remembered as a classic contest where centuries from Mitchell and Phillips outshone even a vintage Virat Kohli hundred. For fans of India vs nz cricket, this match delivered drama, quality cricket, and a historic outcome.
New Zealand celebrated a well-earned triumph, while India were left to reflect on missed opportunities and areas needing improvement as the rivalry continues to evolve.