India won the fifth and final India vs New Zealand ODI by 22 runs at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. The win gave India the five-match series 3-1. It was a remarkable defence of a modest total. India were bowled out for just 209 in 42.1 overs. New Zealand, in reply, were dismissed for 187. Axar Patel took the final wicket to seal the match. Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy was sharp throughout, and India’s seamers delivered under pressure.
India’s innings never really found momentum. Rohit Sharma fell early again, out for a low score to Matt Fisher. Virat Kohli also fell cheaply, chasing a short wide ball and edging to the keeper. Ruturaj Gaikwad was out to Jacob Duffy. At one point India were 34 for 3 and then 89 for 4 when Shreyas Iyer fell to Blair Tickner. Axar Patel top-scored with 46. Ishan Kishan held one end with a patient knock. India were eventually all out for 209.
For New Zealand, Will Young and Tim Seifert added 26 runs before Mohammed Siraj got Seifert out, caught at mid-on by debutant Yash Thakur. Arshdeep Singh then got Will Young with a short ball, caught by Ruturaj Gaikwad at square leg with a fine diving catch. Nick Kelly was bowled by Arshdeep. Finn Allen was cleaned up by Siraj.
Michael Bracewell and Dean Foxcroft tried to rebuild, but Auqib Nabi and Yash Thakur struck in consecutive overs to remove them. Mitchell Santner fought hard with a mini partnership, but Naman Dhir got him out. In the end, India’s bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Axar Patel wrapped up the innings. New Zealand were all out for 187, giving India a 22-run win.
Arshdeep Singh Matches Indian Number 11 ODI Record With Two Sixes in India vs New Zealand ODI
Arshdeep Singh came in to bat at number 11 for India in the fifth India vs New Zealand ODI on Sunday. He did not stay long, but he made his time count. He scored 14 runs off just four balls. He hit two sixes before Jacob Duffy got him out in the 43rd over.
The first six came off the very first ball he faced. He hit another six off the third ball. Then Duffy dismissed him on the first ball of the 43rd over. Those two sixes put Arshdeep in the record books. By hitting a six off his first ball, he became only the third Indian number 11 batter to do that in an ODI. The other two are Venkatesh Prasad and Jasprit Bumrah.
Arshdeep now shares the mark for the most sixes by an Indian number 11 batter in an ODI innings. Venkatesh Prasad and Mohammed Shami had also hit two sixes each in an innings while batting at number 11. Arshdeep joined them with his two sixes against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui in 2026.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Struggle in Final ODI Tour of New Zealand Ahead of 2027 World Cup
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had a tough time in New Zealand. It was their last ODI tour there. The weather in Tauranga was sunny, unlike the rain in Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton. But the sun did not help the two senior batters. Kohli made 86 runs in the whole series. Rohit made just 30. The conditions were hard for batting.
Kohli started well with 74 in the first ODI at Eden Park. His last three scores were 7, 0, and 5. Rohit had a bad tour too. He got two ducks. He crossed double digits only once. This was only their second overseas tour of the year. Both struggled against the New Zealand fast bowlers. The bowlers kept the ball on a good length and moved it both ways.
Rohit and Kohli were caught on the crease in the fourth ODI. In the final match, they lacked confidence. Rohit mistimed a flick. Kohli slashed at a ball outside off. India were in trouble in both games before the fans could settle in. Matt Henry bowled very well on Friday. Sunday was a good chance to score runs. But the two batters’ shot selection let them down more than the movement of the ball.
These struggles are a warning before the 2027 ODI World Cup. Head coach Gautam Gambhir expects similar conditions there. India will play Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at home next, which will be easier. But doubts remain about whether the batting can handle South Africa. For the first time in over 10 years, Kohli had three single-digit scores in an ODI series. India will need experience and confident batters in the top three in South Africa.
FAQs
Q. Who won the fifth India vs New Zealand ODI?
A. India defeated New Zealand by 22 runs at Bay Oval.
Q. What was India’s total in the fifth ODI?
A. India were bowled out for 209 in 42.1 overs.
Q. Who was India’s top scorer in the fifth ODI?
A. Axar Patel top-scored with 46 runs.
Q. What was the final result of the five-match ODI series?
A. India won the series 3-1 against New Zealand.
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