IND vs NZ Highlights: Virat Kohli's century in vain as New Zealand script historic series win

India vs New Zealand LIVE Score IND vs NZ 3rd ODI: Follow Upates

India vs New Zealand Highlights IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli’s century ultimately went in vain as New Zealand sealed a historic series victory, winning the decider by 41 runs to clinch the contest 2–1 after posting 337/8. Despite half-centuries from Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, India fell short in the chase. Kohli took charge after the early exits of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, bringing calm to the middle and anchoring the innings. He scored 124 runs off 108 balls, but he kept losing his batting partners on the other end. In the end, his wicket almost sealed India's fate, while Kuldeep Yadav's wicket put a stamp on it. It was India's first-ever ODI series loss to New Zealand at home.

Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106) dominated the Indian bowling attack with brilliant centuries, putting New Zealand in a commanding position. Their assault helped the visitors post a challenging target of 338, leaving India with a tough chase ahead. Mohammed Siraj struck at the right moment to dismiss Mitchell, while Arshdeep Singh managed to keep Phillips in check. These breakthroughs gave India a chance to prevent New Zealand from going past 350 and regain some momentum.

Despite this, both batters continued to attack after reaching their centuries, punishing the bowlers and keeping the scoreboard ticking. With Mitchell and Phillips in full flow, New Zealand looked capable of pushing their total toward 370.

Mitchell’s back-to-back authoritative centuries in the series have consistently troubled the Indian attack, while Phillips accelerated after his milestone, adding more pressure and keeping New Zealand firmly in control of the contest.

Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh worked in tandem, taking crucial wickets against New Zealand earlier in the innings. Arshdeep, who was snubbed for the first and second ODIS, returned to the playing XI in Indore. The pacer has justified his return, with a wicket in the opening over, removing opener Henry Nicholls for a golden duck. Meanwhile, Rana got Devon Conway's (5) wicket in the second over. Then Rana broke Daryl Mitchell’s partnership with Will Young (30), which was beginning to frustrate India. Initially, India skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl vs New Zealand, in the third and final ODI.

Also Read - Ryan ten Doeschate blasted for post-match comments on Rohit Sharma: ‘Reason why foreign coaches don't succeed in India'

The home ODI series against New Zealand is set up for a tantalising decider in Indore, with India pushed to the edge by a second-string, Michael Bracewell-led side. The hosts did win the opening ODI in Vadodara, but only after surviving a close contest, wrapping up a 301-run chase with just an over to spare despite a fluent 93 from Virat Kohli.

New Zealand hit back in Rajkot, where eyebrows were raised when India opted to bowl second on a surface that had consistently favoured teams batting first. Daryl Mitchell, who fell short of a century in the opener, made no mistake this time, hammering an unbeaten 131 off 117 balls to steer the visitors home with 15 deliveries remaining.

While the 1-1 scoreline suggests a level contest, New Zealand have arguably been the superior side across departments. Their edge has come largely through spin, both in how their batters handled India’s attack and how their own spinners operated. India’s spin unit struggled to apply sustained pressure, with Kuldeep Yadav in particular being targeted by Mitchell in both games. In contrast, New Zealand’s spinners, Bracewell, Glenn Phillips and debutant Jayden Richard Lennox, choked the scoring rate and forced errors.

For India, however, the decider comes at an ideal venue. They boast a perfect record in Indore, winning all seven ODIs played at the Holkar Stadium.

Squads:

India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Ayush Badoni, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel

New Zealand Squad: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay(w), Michael Bracewell(c), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox, Nick Kelly, Adithya Ashok, Josh Clarkson, Michael Rae

Key moments from India vs New Zealand, 3rd ODI:

• NZ Playing XI - Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay(w), Michael Bracewell(c), Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Kristian Clarke, Jayden Lennox
• IND Playing XI - Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
• India win toss, opt to bowl
• Daryl Mitchell can’t stop scoring against India, smashed his 13th ODI fifty. New Zealand 101/3 in 21`overs
• Daryl Mitchell smashed back-to-back centuries against India. New Zealand 200/3 in 35.4 overs
• Glenn Phillips slammed 2nd century in 83 balls. New Zealand 266/3 in 42 overs vs India in Indore
• New Zealand post 337/8 (D Mitchell 137, G Phillips 106; A Singh 3/63) in 50 overs vs India in Indore.

Virat Kohli, the lone man standing for India, as the top order crumbled in a stiff chase. IND 71/4 in 12.5 overs.

• Virat Kohli slammed 78th fifty in 51 balls. India 120/4 in 22.2 overs vs New Zealand (337/8) in Indore
• Virat Kohli fought lone battle to bring up 54th century, kept India’s search for a miraculous win alive
• Virat Kohli's century in vain as New Zealand win by 41 runs to register historic 2-1 series win vs India.