NZ Makes History with First-Ever ODI Series Win in India! 🏆
Hello Steem Family..,
After New Zealand’s epic chase in Rajkot leveled things, everything boiled down to this final ODI in Indore.. and wow, what a match it was.
As a neutral cricket fan watching from Sri Lanka, I can tell you.. this wasnt just a game, it was history in the making.
📊 Match Snapshot
| Team | Score | Top Scorers | Top Bowlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 337/8 (50) | Mitchell – 137 (131) Phillips – 106 (88) | Arshdeep – 3/63 (10) Harshit – 3/84 (10) |
| India | 296 all out (46) | Kohli – 124 (108) NK Reddy – 53 (57) | K Clarke – 3/54 (9) Foulkes – 3/77 (9) |
- 📍 Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
- 🎯 Toss: India, chose to bowl
- 📅 Result: New Zealand won by 41 runs
- 🏆 Series: New Zealand wins series 2–1 (3-match series)
- ⭐ Player of the Match: Daryl Mitchell – 137 (131)
- 👑 Player of the Series: Daryl Mitchell
Beyond the Numbers & What Actually Happened
Let’s be real.. NZ were in trouble early.
India’s new ball bowlers came out firing. Arshdeep knocked over Henry Nicholls for a golden duck, and Harshit Rana had Devon Conway edging early. At 59/3, I thought India had a real shot at keeping them under 280.
But then… Mitchell and Phillips happened.
What a partnership. They didn’t just rebuild, they absolutely slaughtered the bowling. Mitchell was calm, powerful, and in complete control. Phillips was all intent. stepping down, hitting straight, and taking on Kuldeep like he was a net bowler. That 219-run stand didn’t just turn the game, it broke the game.
India’s chase? Top order disaster.
Rohit went early, Gill looked scratchy, Rahul and Iyer fell cheap. At 96/4, the stadium went quiet. But once Virat Kohli walked in after Rohit’s dismissal, you could feel the electricity shift.
He played a gem — 124 off 108 — driving, flicking, running hard. Every time NZ looked to close the door, Kohli kicked it open again.
The real heartbreak moment?
Kohli’s dismissal. He tried to launch one down the ground off Kristian Clarke, caught at long-off. The whole stadium fell silent. You could see it in his walk back, he knew that was the match.
And that run-out to end it all?
Kuldeep sent back, a direct hit from Glenn Phillips, Just summed up NZ’s fielding effort. sharp, alert, match-winning.
Why This Match Mattered Beyond the Scoreboard
NZ’s first-ever ODI series win in India — let that sink in. After so many tries, they have finally done it.
Mitchell’s series : 352 runs, back-to-back hundreds, ice in his veins. Man of the Match, Man of the Series. deserved every bit of it.
India’s batting worries continue — over-reliance on Kohli in a chase isn’t new, but it’s now a glaring weakness.
Indore’s fortress breached : India had won all 7 previous ODIs here. Today, that perfect record was shattered.
Questions for You.. The Real Cricket Fans..
Was this New Zealand’s greatest-ever ODI series win ?
Does this series loss impact India’s ODI squad planning for the 2027 World Cup ?
Who impressed you more.. Mitchell with the bat or Clarke with the ball ?
Where does Kohli’s 124 rank among his ODI tons in a losing cause ?
What did you think? Let me know in the comments..👇
P.S. This is my 14th Steemit post. Thanks for riding along through this epic series with me. More match reports, more raw takes coming soon!