New Zealand ended the five match T20I series on a winning note after defeating India by seven wickets in the final match at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on November 1.
New Zealand chased down the target of 192 runs in just 18 overs, with Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips playing crucial knocks. Despite the defeat, India managed to win the series 3-2 after taking a 3-0 lead in the first three matches.
Batting first, India posted 191/8 in 20 overs after losing the toss. Team India struggled early, but Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer helped them recover with a 93-run partnership. Kishan scored 61 off 32 balls, while Iyer added 50 off just 23 deliveries. Naman Dhir also contributed 33 runs.
In reply, New Zealand lost Finn Allen early, but Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell added 73 runs for the second wicket. Mitchell scored 29 before getting dismissed. Seifert then joined Glenn Phillips to build another important partnership of 86 runs.
Seifert narrowly missed his century after scoring 93 off 50 balls, while Phillips remained unbeaten on 65 off 38 deliveries. New Zealand reached 195/3 in 18 overs to register a seven-wicket win.
India’s bowling performance once again raised concerns. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returned to the Indian side for the T20I series, could not make the impact expected from an experienced bowler. He went wicketless after conceding 41 runs in four overs.
The other bowlers also struggled to contain the New Zealand batters. Varun Chakaravarthy conceded 45 runs in 4 overs, while Prince Yadav gave away 35 runs in three overs without taking a wicket. Arshdeep Singh picked up one wicket but conceded 40 runs.
India failed to defend 191 runs, with New Zealand completing the chase with two overs remaining.
With the T20I series over, both teams will now turn their attention to the 50 over format. The five match ODI series will begin on November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland, with the remaining matches scheduled in Wellington, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui.
Shubman Gill will lead India in the first three matches, while Shreyas Iyer will take over the captaincy for the final two ODIs.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are also part of the squad. India’s bowling attack will have a different combination for the ODI series, and the upcoming matches will be an opportunity for the team to address its bowling concerns ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
