New Zealand VS India Match ball by ball Commentary

Bring on the Tests - Yes, please! It's time to pack away the coloured clothing and bring out the whites as these two sides shift their focus to the longest format of the game. The first of the two Tests will get underway in Wellington on Thursday, 19th November, with play starting at 3.30 am IST (10 pm GMT on the previous day). As always, you can join us a little earlier for all the build-up. For now, switch tabs and catch all the international action unfolding across the globe. Cheers!

The bigger picture - While the result may not have gone their way on the night, New Zealand will take heart from the fight they showed in the final two games, despite missing several of their ODI regulars. It was also a positive sign of the depth they have built within the squad. All is not hunky-dory for India, though. They were found wanting against the moving ball, and similar conditions could await them at next year’s World Cup, so it is something they will want to address. For now, Shreyas Iyer and Co. will celebrate a series triumph, having come through a challenging contest.

The skipper of India - Shreyas Iyer says it feels exciting to win a series in New Zealand, both in the T20Is earlier and now in the ODIs. He notes that India faced several challenges but maintained belief even after not posting a big total, confident they could turn the game around at any stage. He is pleased that every player thought in the same direction and executed the plan. Reflecting on the series, Iyer says it was not one for the batters. He praises the bowlers for standing up when it mattered and for backing themselves to get the team through regardless of the conditions. He calls that mindset and the character shown by every individual top-notch. On the constantly changing combinations, with players unavailable due to Test preparations and injuries, Iyer acknowledges that it can be challenging for players to adapt. However, he says India did not want to make excuses and that every individual was willing to come out and give their best. Iyer then expresses his appreciation for the Indian supporters, saying it has been heartening to see them turn up in large numbers and support both teams regardless of the results. Tells that the backing has been a major source of inspiration and thanks everyone who attended for their love and support. On the sporting relationship between India and New Zealand, Iyer states that there is mutual respect between the two sides. He believes the rivalry should remain friendly off the field, while remaining fiercely competitive on it.

The captain of New Zealand - Mitchell Santner says his hand is holding up fine for now, although he will have to assess it again tomorrow. Shares that he was happy with the position at the halfway stage, especially given the slow nature of the surface, and was pleased with how the bowlers kept picking up wickets. However, he gives India full credit for their bowling effort, highlighting how Shreyas Iyer rotated his seamers smartly and held Axar Patel back. He feels they could have won had they managed to extend their partnerships for a little longer. Reflecting on the series, he believes the 3-1 scoreline does not quite tell the full story, pointing to the rain interruptions and lost tosses. He also takes positives from the different players stepping up when called upon throughout the series.

PLAYER OF THE SERIES - Gurnoor Brar wins the award for picking up 9 wickets in the series. With the pacer having linked up with the Test squad, Shreyas Iyer collects the award on his behalf.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Arshdeep Singh takes home the award for his impressive figures of 10-2-30-3. He also chipped in with a handy 14 off just 4 balls with the bat. Arshdeep says he loves his batting, even when he comes in at No. 11, and enjoys trying to create room before swinging hard. He adds that some teammates joke that he is scared of the ball, but he insists he takes it on and makes room for himself. On the crucial last-wicket stand with Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep shares that their conversation after the innings was about how important those runs could be. He says they made sure India went past 200, treating it as a small milestone and giving the bowlers a total to defend. Reflecting on the bowling effort, he says India kept coming hard and maintained their lines and lengths. Even when wickets were not coming, he mentions, they refused to loosen their discipline, and eventually the results followed as India won. On his personal life, Arshdeep says God has been very kind to him and credits his partner for being supportive and helping him maintain the right mindset. Adds that his work away from the field has a major influence on how he performs on it. Speaking about his engagement at Mount Maunganui beach, he says he could not have asked for a better view. He admits he was nervous, but says the setting helped and that it feels very special.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

No Henry? No Jamieson? No problem, said Jacob Duffy and Matthew Fisher. After Mitchell Santner won a rare toss, the pair came together to send India's top order packing inside the first Powerplay. From there, every time India threatened to build a partnership, the Kiwis found a way to strike and derail their recovery. Some late hitting from Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, though, gave India a much-needed push and took them past the 200 mark to finish on 209. That final-wicket stand was worth 26 valuable runs and proved crucial in the end.

Kiwis beaten at their own game - It was not a bad start for New Zealand, as they managed to deny India the lift they needed by picking up early wickets. To their credit, the tourists did not lose heart despite managing just one wicket in the first Powerplay. The chase began in daylight, but as the lights came on, the ball seemed to do a bit more under the floodlights, much like it had the other night when India were at the receiving end. Slowly but surely, India worked their way back into the game. The seamers kept things tight, chipped away at the wickets and built pressure on the New Zealand batters. The hosts found different individuals in the lower order to keep their hopes alive, but the visitors kept striking at the right time and eventually closed out the game to seal the series.

India clinch the series - An inspiring bowling display has helped India end their wait for an ODI series win in New Zealand. As for the Black Caps, their bowlers had set the game up for them, but the batting unit failed to rise to the occasion. With this defeat, New Zealand suffer their first ODI series loss at home since 2019. Interestingly, it was the Men in Blue who had handed them their previous home series defeat as well, before the Kiwis went on a remarkable run of winning 11 consecutive ODI series on home soil.