New Zealand Makes History with First ODI Series Win in India
Virat Kohli's brilliant century went in vain on Sunday as New Zealand defeated India in the third ODI at Indore's Holkar Cricket Stadium. This victory gave the Kiwis their first-ever bilateral ODI series win on Indian soil, breaking India's impressive undefeated streak in 50-over bilateral matches that had lasted since March 2019.
Kohli's Heroics Not Enough for India
Virat Kohli played a magnificent innings, scoring his 85th international century with 124 runs. He looked in complete control throughout his stay at the crease, but his dismissal proved crucial. Harshit Rana supported him well with 52 runs, and Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed a half-century too. However, the rest of India's batting lineup failed to deliver when it mattered most.
India seemed to be in contention while Kohli and Rana were building their partnership. Once they fell, the chase lost momentum despite some late efforts. The Indian team ultimately fell short of New Zealand's challenging total.
Mitchell and Phillips Power New Zealand to Big Total
Earlier in the day, New Zealand posted a formidable 337 for eight thanks to spectacular centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. Mitchell scored 137 runs while Phillips smashed 106, with both batsmen putting together a massive 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
This partnership completely changed the course of the innings. Mitchell played the anchor role with calm authority while Phillips provided explosive momentum. Their stand allowed New Zealand to recover from a shaky start where they were reduced to 58 for three.
Indian Bowlers Start Strong but Fade
India's pace attack began impressively, with Arshdeep Singh making an immediate impact. The left-arm pacer, replacing Prasidh Krishna, dismissed Henry Nicholls for a duck in the very first over with a beautiful delivery that moved away late and clipped the leg stump.
Arshdeep finished with three wickets for 63 runs while Harshit Rana took three for 84. Both bowlers hit the deck hard and extracted enough movement to trouble the New Zealand batsmen early on. However, they couldn't contain Mitchell and Phillips once the partnership gained momentum.
Another Setback for Gambhir's India
This defeat marks another unwanted record for India under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir. The team had previously suffered a 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand in 2024 and conceded a Test series to South Africa last year, their first home defeat to the Proteas in the longest format since 2000.
The loss in Indore continues this troubling pattern for the Indian cricket team. While individual performances like Kohli's century shine brightly, the team's overall results have been disappointing in recent important series.
New Zealand's victory represents a significant milestone for their cricket team. Winning an ODI bilateral series in India had remained an elusive achievement until Sunday's match. The Kiwis showed remarkable resilience after early setbacks and capitalized on key partnerships to secure this historic win.
