Where India lost control: Breaking down the ODI series defeat to New Zealand on home soil

The Blackcaps have turned India’s home dominance into a statistical target. After snapping India’s 11‑year, 10-month, and 17-day unbeaten home streak in Tests with a 3-0 whitewash in November 2024, the Kiwis have now broken another long‑standing barrier by winning their first‑ever men’s ODI bilateral series on Indian shores.

It took them 37 years and seven failed forays since their first attempt in December 1988 to breach India's fortress in the 50-over format.

This time, New Zealand finally ended their drought, and the manner of the win made it stand out even more. They didn’t just sneak past India; they outplayed them in every department. The result felt less like a one‑off upset and more like a team exposing vulnerabilities that have been building in India’s ODI setup since the 2023 World Cup.

So how did it unravel for India?

India’s spin advantage evaporates at home

India’s spin attack has been the backbone of their ODI success on home turf. But their spinners endured one of their most ineffective series in recent memory. 

Across three matches, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav combined for three (all claimed by Kuldeep) wickets for 350 runs in 53 overs, at 6.60 runs per over. Instead of controlling the middle overs, they allowed New Zealand’s batters to rotate freely, settle in, and build platforms for late acceleration. The lack of breakthroughs meant the hosts were constantly behind the eight ball.

What made this more glaring was the contrast with New Zealand’s approach. The visitors came in with a clear plan to attack lengths, use the sweep, and disrupt rhythm, and India’s spinners never found a counter. On home pitches where India usually suffocate teams, they were instead the ones being suffocated.

Modest contributions from Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer

India needed stability from their senior batters, but Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer endured a forgettable series. Rohit managed 61 runs at 20.66, while Shreyas produced 60 runs at 20, leaving India without the solidity required in tight contests. Their lack of runs repeatedly exposed the middle order to rebuilding phases rather than allowing them to dictate tempo.

With both occupying crucial roles, Rohit as the aggressor at the top and Shreyas as the mid-innings controller, their lack of success meant India were constantly playing catch‑up. In a series decided by fine margins, this lack of contribution from two experienced batters proved costly.

Daryl Mitchell turns serial tormentor

Daryl Mitchell was the single biggest difference between the two sides. His tally of 352 runs at an average of 176.00, including two centuries and a fifty, helped the tourists attain the unattained. India simply could not dismiss him early enough to prevent damage. Whether consolidating after early wickets or launching in the final overs, Mitchell dictated the pace of the series.

His ability to neutralise spin: sweeping, stepping out, and rotating strike with ease exposed India’s lack of adaptability. Mitchell’s consistency across all three matches meant New Zealand always had a stable core around which their innings could flourish. Mitchell boasts an average of 74.10 against India and has aggregated 741 runs in 13 ODIs.

Absence of Jasprit Bumrah

India’s attack missed Jasprit Bumrah’s presence at every stage of the series. Without him, India's new ball attack lacked bite, the middle overs lacked incisiveness, and the death overs lacked control.

Bumrah’s ability to break partnerships and deliver precision under pressure is unmatched in world cricket, and his absence left India without a genuine enforcer. In a series where India needed a strike bowler to change momentum, the void left by Bumrah was impossible to ignore.

NZ’s spinners adapted better than India’s

New Zealand’s spinners outperformed India’s on Indian soil, a facet that tells its own story. Jayden Lennox bowled 20 overs for 84 runs with three wickets at 4.20, while Michael Bracewell delivered 18 overs for 90 runs at 5.00. Both maintained discipline and never allowed India’s batters to dominate. 

In contrast, India’s premier wrist‑spinner Kuldeep Yadav was attacked, taken for 7.28 runs per over. New Zealand’s batters refused to let him settle, using footwork and sweeps to disrupt his lengths.

Adding to India’s woes, rookie seamer Kristian Clarke, on debut, finished as the leading wicket‑taker with seven wickets at 6.77, largely because the hosts never put him under sustained pressure. The tactical imbalance between how each side approached the opposition’s bowlers was stark.

India’s bilateral ODI inconsistency since the 2023 World Cup

India’s ODI form has been slightly inconsistent since the 2023 World Cup. They have played six bilateral series, winning three and losing as many, a 50% win–loss split. This inconsistency reflects a team struggling to find rhythm and balance.

This represents a sharp contrast to the 2019–2023 cycle, during which India won 14 of 20 bilateral ODI series, boasting a 70% win rate. The drop to 50% highlights a team that has lost some of its structural certainty and is yet to rebuild a reliable ODI identity.

A worrying trend with 2027 on the horizon

India’s loss to New Zealand is not an isolated blip. With the next ODI World Cup scheduled for 2027, the clock is already ticking. India need clarity in their batting order, sharper spin strategies, a more adaptable bowling unit, and a stronger approach to pressure moments.

The talent pool remains rich, but the cohesion and execution have dipped. If India are to mount a serious challenge in 2027, these issues cannot be brushed aside as one‑off failures. The warning signs are clear, and the loss against New Zealand only amplifies how much work lies ahead.