India captain Shubman Gill openly addressed his team's shortcomings after a decisive loss to New Zealand in the third ODI. The visitors secured a historic series win with a 41-run victory at Holkar Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Gill's Frank Assessment
With the series tied at 1-1 entering the final match, Gill expressed clear disappointment with India's performance. He stated the team fell well short of expectations in this do-or-die clash.
"After the first game, coming here 1-1, the way we played was disappointing," Gill said during the post-match presentation. "A lot of areas need improvement."
The captain did highlight some positive aspects despite the overall result. He specifically mentioned Virat Kohli's batting and Harshit Rana's contributions as bright spots. Gill also noted the fast bowlers performed reasonably well.
Looking Toward 2027 World Cup
Gill revealed the team management is already planning for future tournaments. "Keeping World Cup 2027 in mind and where it will be, we want to give Nitish Kumar opportunities," he explained. This indicates a strategic approach to player development ahead of the next major global tournament.
New Zealand's Landmark Achievement
New Zealand's victory marked their first ODI bilateral series win in India since 1988. They achieved this milestone on their eighth attempt, breaking a long-standing drought on Indian soil.
The visitors set up their win with an imposing total of 337 for eight after being asked to bat first. Daryl Mitchell continued his excellent form with a second consecutive century in the series. He blasted 137 runs off just 131 balls, including 15 fours and one six.
Phillips Provides Firepower
Glenn Phillips added substantial momentum with a commanding 106 from 88 deliveries. His aggressive innings featured nine boundaries and three sixes, putting pressure on the Indian bowlers throughout.
Captain Michael Bracewell contributed valuable late runs with an unbeaten 28 off 18 balls. His quickfire knock included four boundaries that boosted New Zealand's total in the final overs.
India's Bowling Efforts
Despite the batting onslaught, Indian bowlers managed some success. Arshdeep Singh returned figures of 3 for 63, while Harshit Rana picked up 3 for 84. Their efforts provided moments of control during New Zealand's dominant batting display.
India's Chase Falls Short
India's response centered around Virat Kohli, who stood firm while wickets fell around him. Kohli struck a resolute 124 off 108 balls, hitting 10 fours and three sixes in a determined innings.
He found valuable support from Harshit Rana, who scored his maiden ODI fifty. Rana's brisk 52 off 43 balls helped create a 99-run partnership that briefly kept India in contention.
Late Resistance Not Enough
Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed a composed 53 off 57 balls, including two fours and two sixes. However, the target proved too steep as India were bowled out for 296 in 46 overs, falling 41 runs short.
New Zealand's Bowling Triumph
Kristian Clarke led New Zealand's bowling effort with figures of 3 for 54. Zakary Foulkes claimed 3 for 77, while Jayden Lennox impressed with a tidy spell of 2 for 42. Their collective performance sealed a landmark night for the visitors in Indore.
The result provides New Zealand with significant momentum as they celebrate their historic achievement. For India, the loss highlights areas needing improvement as they build toward future international competitions.
