New Zealand secured a 41-run victory over India in the ODI series decider, with Virat Kohli’s impressive 124 off 108 balls not enough to prevent the defeat. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips’ knocks propelled New Zealand to 337/8, setting a challenging target for India. Despite Kohli’s 54th ODI century, India fell short, giving New Zealand their first-ever ODI series win on Indian soil.
India’s chase stumbled early as key batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and others departed quickly, leaving them struggling at 71/4. Kohli and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s partnership briefly revived India’s hopes, but the target proved too much in the end. This defeat marked India’s fifth home ODI series loss since 2010.
Kohli’s resilient innings included reaching his fifty in 51 balls and eventually scoring a century off 91 deliveries. Despite his efforts and late fireworks from Harshit Rana, India couldn’t overcome New Zealand’s total. The visitors’ bowlers, including Kyle Jamieson and Zakary Foulkes, played a crucial role in securing the historic series win.
New Zealand’s victory was a result of a collective effort, with standout performances from Mitchell, Phillips, and their bowlers. India, despite Kohli’s heroics, couldn’t chase down the target, leading to New Zealand’s remarkable triumph on Indian soil. The series win added another feather in New Zealand’s cap after their previous Test sweep over India.
