First in 13554 days: New Zealand rewrite history books in Indore, record maiden ODI series win in India

Twin hundreds from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips helped New Zealand register their first-ever ODI series win in India as they beat the Men in Blue by 41 runs in the series decider in Indore on Sunday.

New Zealand first played an ODI series in December 1988: a five-match contest, and India had trounced them 4-0, with the last fixture ending in a no result. This was New Zealand's eighth bilateral ODI series in India.

Mitchell was awarded the Player of the Match (POTM) and the Player of the Series as he scored his second consecutive hundred of the series: 137 off 131 balls. Mitchell's knock was laced with 15 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 104.58.

Phillips scored the second hundred of his ODI career and batted at a strike rate of 120.45 to dent India's bowling attack. He hammered three sixes and nine fours during his innings.

Mitchell and Phillips added 119 runs for the fourth wicket after the visitors were tottering at 58 for the loss of three wickets in 12.1 overs. India's bowlers made a good comeback after removing both the batters, but an 18-ball 28 by Michael Bracewell was enough to ensure that the tourists batted their 50 overs. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the India bowlers as he returned figures of 3/63. Harshit Rana also claimed a three-for but leaked 84 runs in his 10 overs.

Kohli's 54th ODI ton goes in vain

In reply, India were languishing at 71/4 in 12.5 overs before Nitish Reddy (53 off 57), and Virat Kohli added 88 runs for the fifth wicket and rescued the Men in Blue. Virat registered his 54th ODI ton as he held one end up and kept India in the run chase. Kohli looked in zen mode as he scored 124 off 108 balls with the help of 10 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 114.81.

BELIEVE! 🇮🇳#TeamIndia #INDvNZ #3rdODI @IDFCfirstbank pic.twitter.com/iDhHO2Bg7z

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2026

He also added 99 runs for the seventh wicket alongside Rana, and India looked like wrestling momentum in their favour at that stage; however, the pressure of the asking rate got to Rana, and he fell after scoring 52.

Rana's untimely wicket put a lot of pressure on Kohli, and he also perished on the fourth delivery of the 46th over in the form of India's ninth wicket. Zak Foulkes (3/77) and Kristian Clarke (3/54).