Virat Kohli’s heroic 124, his 54th ODI century, could not prevent New Zealand from securing their first-ever bilateral ODI series victory on Indian soil.
Propelled by twin centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106), the Black Caps posted a formidable 337/8, overcoming early setbacks and a late Indian fightback to win the decisive match by 41 runs in Indore.
Match Analysis: How Mitchell & Phillips Engineered a Historic NZ Triumph
New Zealand's victory was forged by a phenomenal middle-order partnership after a disastrous start.
Reduced to 5/2 in the opening over, Daryl Mitchell (137 off 113) and Glenn Phillips (106 off 93) orchestrated a masterful 221-run stand.
They expertly navigated India's spin threat. Mitchell aggressively used his feet against Kuldeep Yadav before unleashing a brutal assault in the death overs.
This partnership shifted the match's momentum decisively, allowing NZ to post a commanding 337/8.
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Despite India pulling
back wickets at the death, the damage was irreparable, setting a target that
proved just beyond the reach of a lone warrior.
Kohli's Lone Battle: A Century of Class Amidst Collapse
In response, India's chase faltered early, crumbling to 71/4 as the top order failed. From the ruins, Virat Kohli waged a magnificent solo war.
Displaying sublime touch, he anchored crucial partnerships, first with debutant Nitish Reddy (53) and then with Harshit Rana.
Kohli's 54th ODI century (124 off 108) was a blend of classical drives and powerful pulls, keeping Indian hopes alive in a seemingly lost cause.
A blistering cameo from Rana (40 off 24) even brought the equation down to a gettable 108 from 60 balls.
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However, Kohli’s dismissal, attempting one final heave, ended India's
resistance, highlighting his immense value but also the team's concerning
over-reliance on his genius in crisis.
Series Implications: A Watershed Moment for New Zealand, a Reality Check for India
This result is a watershed moment for New Zealand cricket, proving they can conquer India in India with a blend of resilience (recovering from 5/2) and aggressive batting.
For India, it’s a sobering reality check ahead of major tournaments.
While the bowling attack lacked penetration in the middle overs, the larger concern is the fragile batting lineup beyond Kohli.
The series loss exposes a lack of consistent firepower in the middle order, a gap that must be addressed.
Kohli's form is a silver lining, but cricket is a team
sport, and New Zealand’s collective effort triumphed over individual
brilliance.
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Source Information
This report is
based on official match data and commentary.
- For the official scorecard
and match details: ESPNcricinfo
- For post-match press
conferences and highlights: BCCI.tv
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