New Zealand clinched the 3-match ODI series 2-1 with a solid 41-run victory in the third match at Indore on January 18, 2026. Daryl Mitchell stole the spotlight once again with a magnificent 137 off 131 balls. He teamed up with Glenn Phillips, who smashed 106 off 88 balls, to rebuild the innings after early setbacks. Their stunning 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket helped New Zealand post a massive 337/8 in 50 overs.
Virat Kohli fought hard in the chase with a brilliant 124 off 108 balls. He found support from Nitish Kumar Reddy (53) and Harshit Rana (52), but it was not enough. India kept losing wickets at key moments and eventually fell short at 296 all out in 46 overs. Kristian Clarke and Zak Foulkes picked up three wickets each to seal the win for the Kiwis.
Match Summary: India vs New Zealand
Here is the complete match summary of this exciting decider:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Score | 337/8 (50 overs) |
| India Score | 296 (46 overs) |
| Match Result | New Zealand won by 41 runs |
| Best Batting (NZ) | Daryl Mitchell – 137 off 131 balls (15 fours, 3 sixes) |
| Best Batting (India) | Virat Kohli – 124 off 108 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes) |
| Best Bowling (NZ) | Kristian Clarke – 3/54 in 9 overs (Econ: 6.00) |
| Best Bowling (India) | Arshdeep Singh – 3/63 in 10 overs (Econ: 6.30) |
| Player of the Match | Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) |
| Player of the Series | Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) – 352 Runs |
New Zealand Innings: 337/8 In 50 Overs
New Zealand had a horror start to their innings. They lost two wickets with just 5 runs on the board. Arshdeep Singh struck first, bowling Henry Nicholls for a duck in the very first over. One ball later, Harshit Rana got Devon Conway caught by Rohit Sharma for just 5. The Kiwis looked in deep trouble at 5/2 inside 1.1 overs.
Will Young and Daryl Mitchell then steadied the ship. They added 53 runs for the third wicket and took New Zealand past the initial crisis. Young played some good shots during his stay, scoring 30 off 41 balls with five boundaries and a six. However, Harshit Rana came back to break the partnership, getting Young caught by Jadeja in the 13th over.
At 58/3, New Zealand needed a big partnership. Mitchell found the perfect ally in Glenn Phillips. The duo put on a record-breaking stand. They added 219 runs for the fourth wicket and completely took the game away from India. Mitchell reached his fifty in 56 balls with six fours and a six, while Phillips brought up his half-century off 53 balls.
Both batters then shifted gears. Mitchell completed his century off just 106 deliveries, hitting ten boundaries and two sixes. Phillips was even more aggressive, racing to his hundred in only 83 balls. He smashed nine fours and three sixes during his knock. India’s bowlers had no answers as the pair dominated the middle overs.
Phillips finally fell for 106, caught by KL Rahul off Arshdeep Singh in the 44th over. Mitchell followed soon after, dismissed by Mohammed Siraj for a brilliant 137. The lower order added quick runs in the death overs. Michael Bracewell remained unbeaten on 28 off 18 balls, including three sixes. New Zealand finished at 337/8, setting India a target of 338.
India Chase: 296 All Out In 46 Overs
India started their chase with intent, scoring 66 runs in the powerplay. However, they also lost two early wickets. Zak Foulkes removed Rohit Sharma for 11, caught by Clarke in the 4th over. Kyle Jamieson then bowled Shubman Gill for 23, and India slipped to 45/2 in the 7th over.
Virat Kohli looked in sublime touch from the start. He brought up his fifty in just 51 balls with four boundaries and a six. But wickets kept falling at the other end. Shreyas Iyer fell for 3, caught off Clarke, and KL Rahul managed only 1 before Jayden Lennox got him. India was in trouble at 71/4 in the 13th over.
Nitish Kumar Reddy joined Kohli, and the pair built a crucial 88-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Reddy played confidently, reaching his fifty off 52 balls. He hit two fours and two sixes during his stay. The partnership kept India in the hunt, but Clarke struck again to remove Reddy for 53. Jadeja followed soon after for 12, leaving India at 178/6.
Kohli brought up his hundred off 91 balls and continued to fight. He became the player with the most runs at 3rd Position, Surpassing Ponting; Harshit Rana provided excellent support with a quickfire 52 off 43 balls. He smashed four fours and four sixes in an entertaining knock. The pair added 99 runs for the seventh wicket and gave India some hope. But Foulkes returned to dismiss Rana, and the same ball saw Siraj fall without scoring.
Kohli finally fell for 124 in the 46th over, caught by Mitchell off Clarke. With the main man gone, India’s chase collapsed quickly. They lost their last three wickets for just 19 runs and finished at 296 all out, falling short by 41 runs.
Key Highlight: Player of the Match – Daryl Mitchell Delivers Again
Mitchell proved why he is one of the most reliable middle-order batters in world cricket. He walked in at 5/2 with his team in deep trouble. He first rescued the innings with Young, then built an incredible partnership with Phillips. His 137 came at a strike rate of 104.58, and he found the boundary 18 times during his stay.
This was Mitchell’s second century of the series after his match-winning 131 not out in the second ODI at Rajkot. He earned his second straight Player of the Match award and played a key role in helping New Zealand win the series 2-1. His consistency and ability to perform under pressure made the difference in this hard-fought series.
Conclusion: What This Result Means
New Zealand completed a fantastic series win in India, taking the three-match series 2-1. After losing the first ODI, they bounced back strongly to win the next two matches. Mitchell was the star performer throughout, scoring 352 runs in the series and also winning the Player of the Series Award. Phillips also showed his class with a brilliant century in the decider.
For India, Virat Kohli’s century was a silver lining in the defeat. He looked in great form and will be happy with his performances. However, the team will be disappointed with the overall result. The bowlers struggled to control the run flow in the middle overs, and the batting order failed to build on promising starts. India will need to address these issues before their next assignment.
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