Cricket is a funny game, honestly. Just when you think the Indian team has a vice grip on a home series, the Black Caps find a way to flip the script entirely. That’s exactly what happened on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. If you were looking at the india new zealand match score and thought 284 was enough, you weren't the only one. Most fans at the stadium were already celebrating a series win at the halfway mark.
They were wrong.
New Zealand didn't just win; they pulled off their highest-ever ODI chase against India on Indian soil. It was clinical. It was quiet. And for the Indian bowlers, it was kinda embarrassing. Daryl Mitchell basically decided he wasn't going home without a fight, smashing a career-defining 131 not out.
The India New Zealand Match Score Breakout
India finished their 50 overs at 284/7. On a Rajkot pitch that felt a bit sluggish as the day went on, it looked like a match-winning total. KL Rahul was the hero of the first act, scoring a brilliant 112 off 92 balls*. He’s got this knack for switching gears lately that’s just fun to watch. One minute he’s grinding out singles, and the next, he’s launching a six over long-on to reach his century.
The start was decent too. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill—who is captaining this side—put on a steady opening stand. Gill looked classy for his 56, but he’ll be kicking himself for the way he got out, mistiming a pull shot off Kyle Jamieson. Then the middle-order wobble happened.
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Virat Kohli came in and actually surpassed another Sachin Tendulkar record during his brief stay, but he fell for 23 to an innocuous delivery. Shreyas Iyer followed quickly for 8. Suddenly, India was 118/4 and the crowd went silent. If it wasn't for Rahul and a gritty 27 from Ravindra Jadeja, the score wouldn't have even crossed 250.
Why the Bowlers Struggled
You’ve gotta feel for Kuldeep Yadav. He’s usually the trump card in these conditions, but the Kiwis had a plan for him. They didn't let him settle. Daryl Mitchell and Will Young treated him like a club bowler at times, using the sweep shot to perfection.
The bowling figures told a grim story:
- Kuldeep Yadav: 1/72 in 10 overs
- Ravindra Jadeja: 0/54 in 8 overs
- Mohammed Siraj: 0/51 in 9 overs
Prasidh Krishna had a night he’d rather forget. Not just with the ball, but in the field. He dropped Daryl Mitchell when the Kiwi batter was on 80. You just can't do that at this level. Mitchell didn't give India another look after that, finishing the game with an audacious scoop shot off Harshit Rana to seal a seven-wicket victory.
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The Daryl Mitchell Masterclass
Let’s talk about Mitchell for a second. The guy is a mountain. He ended up with 131 off 117 balls*, and he never looked rushed. Even when the required run rate climbed above six an over, he and Will Young (who made a very solid 87) just kept picking the gaps. They put on 162 runs for the third wicket.
It wasn't just power hitting. It was smart cricket. They respected the good balls from Harshit Rana—who was the only Indian bowler with a bit of bite—and pounced on anything slightly short.
By the time Glenn Phillips came out to join Mitchell, the result was a foregone conclusion. New Zealand reached 286/3 with 15 balls to spare. It leveled the three-match series at 1-1, ending India’s eight-match winning streak against the Kiwis in ODIs.
What This Means for the Decider
The series now moves to Indore for the final match on Sunday, January 18. Honestly, India has some soul-searching to do. The decision to include Nitish Kumar Reddy over other options is being debated, though he did contribute a quick 25 and took a good catch.
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The biggest worry is the spin department. On a pitch that offered grip, New Zealand’s debutant Jayden Lennox looked more threatening than India's veterans. He finished with 1/42 from his 10 overs, showing exactly how to bowl on a slow deck.
Actionable Insights for the Final Match
If you're following the series, keep an eye on these specific factors for the Indore decider:
- The Toss Factor: Rajkot proved that batting second isn't the nightmare people expected, but Indore is a smaller ground. Expect the captain winning the toss to bowl first to avoid the dew.
- Spin Adjustments: Kuldeep needs to find a way to counter the sweep. If Mitchell and Young continue to sweep him out of the attack, India might need to rethink their field placements.
- KL Rahul's Form: He is currently the backbone of this batting lineup. If he fails early in Indore, the middle order looks incredibly vulnerable without a settled number four.
New Zealand has never won a bilateral ODI series in India. They’re one win away from making history. India, on the other hand, needs to prove that the Rajkot loss was just a fluke. Either way, the india new zealand match score in the finale is going to be the only thing cricket fans care about this weekend.