New Zealand Clinches Historic ODI Series Victory Over India
India Faces First ODI Series Defeat at Home
In a surprising turn of events, India experienced its first-ever ODI series loss at home against New Zealand. Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin expressed that India's performance seemed somewhat lackluster, suggesting that the Kiwis effectively secured a '5-0' series win. Despite missing several key players, the New Zealand team, led by Michael Bracewell, showcased remarkable resilience. Players like Daryl Mitchell, Jayden Lennox, Glenn Phillips, and Kristian Clarke stepped up, helping the team recover after an initial defeat in the first ODI to clinch the next two matches.
In the final ODI, New Zealand set a challenging target of 337/8. India struggled early, finding themselves at 71/4. However, Virat Kohli (124), Nitish Kumar Reddy (53), and Harshit Rana (52) mounted a spirited fightback. Despite their efforts, timely wickets allowed New Zealand to secure a 41-run victory, ultimately winning the series 2-1. This marked New Zealand's first ODI series win in India since 1988, following a 3-0 Test series whitewash in 2024, which was India's first home Test series loss in 12 years.
Ashwin's Insights on India's Performance
During a segment titled 'Ash ki Baat', Ashwin remarked, 'Everything will be forgotten now. With the T20 World Cup and IPL on the horizon, the focus will shift. If the T20 World Cup goes poorly and IPL performances falter, pressure will mount. However, if things go well, this series will fade from memory. In my view, New Zealand won the series 5-0. They secured two wins and nearly clinched another, making it feel like a sweep.'
Concerns Over India's Readiness
Ashwin expressed uncertainty about India's preparedness, stating, 'I thought even if India fielded their B or C teams, they could outperform other sides. I'm concerned that this isn't reflective of the team's quality. Observing from the outside, the Indian team's response appeared flat. Historically, when under pressure, the Indian team has found ways to succeed. I felt their response was disappointing, and we didn't apply enough pressure, playing rather soft cricket.'
Recap of the Final ODI
In the concluding ODI, centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137*) and Glenn Phillips (106) propelled New Zealand to 337/8, despite three wickets from Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. After a shaky start at 5/2 and later 58/3, Mitchell and Phillips formed a formidable 219-run partnership, placing the Kiwis in a dominant position.
In response, India found themselves at 71/4 but managed to stage a comeback with an 88-run partnership between Virat and Nitish Kumar Reddy (53 off 57 balls, including two fours and two sixes), followed by a 99-run partnership between Virat and Harshit Rana (52 off 43 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes). Virat's impressive 124 off 108 balls thrilled the Indore crowd. However, once he was dismissed, India's innings collapsed, leading to an all-out score of 296 in 46 overs, handing New Zealand the series 2-1.