New Zealand have ended their long wait for an ODI series win in India as the Kiwis won the three-match series 2-1. Virat Kohli played a jaw-dropping knock in the third ODI, but the Indian team lost the game by 41 runs.
Virat Kohli’s brilliant hundred in the third ODI at the Holkar Cricket Stadium went in vain as New Zealand defeated the Men in Blue in the series decider by 41 runs. With this victory, the Kiwis have registered their first-ever ODI series win in India in 37 years.
Kohli held India’s dwindling hopes alive as he found little support from the other end. But with the target too tall and only a handful of batters contributing, the Men in Blue could not cross the line despite Kohli scoring a masterful 124.
India were handed a challenging target of 338 in the series decider. The hosts lost former captain Rohit Sharma early for 11 when he hit one to mid-on. Captain Shubman Gill was outdone by a brilliant ball from Kyle Jamieson, with the skipper departing on 23. Shreyas Iyer was dismissed on three, while KL Rahul could not find his groove either, getting caught for just one. India were in huge trouble when Rahul departed with the hosts on 71/4.
Kohli, Nitish and Harshit fight back
With the backs against the wall, Kohli, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana fought back strongly. Joining Kohli, the two put up a strong stand of 88 for the fifth wicket, but just when the hosts were getting a big move, they lost Nitish for 53.ย
Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed for 12 as he failed once again despite the team needing him big time. Harshit Rana then turned up with Kohli and played a stellar knock himself. The all-rounder scored his maiden ODI fifty and scored 52 from 43 balls, but was dismissed in the 44th over.ย
Left doing the impossible all alone, Kohli was dismissed off 124 after slamming his 85th international hundred. He was caught at long-off by stand-in New Zealand captain Daryl Mitchell, holding onto the easy one. Kuldeep Yadav was run out immediately after as India lost the game by 41 runs to go down to New Zealand in an ODI series for the first time.ย
Mitchell stars for New Zealand
Earlier, Mitchell starred for New Zealand as he slammed his second consecutive century in the third ODI. He scored 137, while Glenn Phillips making 106 as the Kiwis piled up a strong total of 337 runs.