In a heartbreaking conclusion for the home fans at Indore, the heroic efforts of Virat Kohli (124) and Harshit Rana (52) proved to be in vain as New Zealand clinched their first-ever ODI series win on Indian soil. Despite Kohli’s magnificent 54th ODI century and Rana’s fearless maiden fifty, India fell short by 41 runs, finishing on 296 in their pursuit of a mammoth 338. The match was defined by New Zealand’s relentless pressure and clinical execution, ensuring that even a legendary ‘Chase Master’ performance couldn’t prevent the historic 2-1 series loss. As the final wicket fell in the 46th over, the Holkar Stadium witnessed a rare sight: a victorious Kiwi side celebrating a milestone that had eluded them for decades.

Virat Kohli’s 54th ODI century and Harshit Rana’s fearless resistance: A late surge that almost stunned New Zealand 

The Indian chase was a story of a lone warrior finding unlikely allies in the dying stages of the match. Earlier in the innings, when India were reeling at 71/4, youngster Nitish Kumar Reddy played a vital role in the recovery, scoring a gritty 53 off 57 balls. Reddy’s maiden ODI fifty, celebrated with his trademark “Pushpa” gesture, provided the initial spark for India, as he combined with Kohli for an 88-run stand to stabilize the ship.

Following his departure, Rana stepped up to join a set Kohli, and together they stitched a blistering 99-run partnership off just 69 balls. Rana, primarily known for his pace, showcased his batting range by smashing 4 fours and 4 sixes, reaching his maiden ODI fifty in just 41 balls and momentarily silencing the Kiwi attack. At the other end, Kohli was a picture of focused aggression, reaching his century in 91 balls and eventually accelerating to a superb 124.

However, the turning point came in the 46th over when Kohli, attempting to clear the long-on boundary off Kristian Clarke, was caught by Daryl Mitchell. Rana had departed just an over earlier after a valiant 52, and with the two set batters gone, the tail could not withstand the pressure. While their combined stand brought India within striking distance, the lack of support from the specialists in the middle order meant that Kohli’s masterclass, supported by the heroics of Reddy and Rana, ultimately ended in a losing cause.

Also WATCH: IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli reacts furiously after unexpected fielding error in Indore ODI

New Zealand’s historic ODI series win against India under Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips

The foundation of New Zealand’s historic triumph was laid by a monumental 219-run stand between Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106). After being reduced to 58/3 by an inspired opening spell from Arshdeep Singh and Rana, the duo produced a masterclass in counter-attacking cricket, becoming the first Kiwi pair to score centuries in the same ODI innings against India.

Mitchell’s second consecutive ton of the series and Phillips’ explosive 88-ball hundred propelled the visitors to a formidable 337/8, a total that always looked daunting despite the small Indore boundaries. In the second innings, the New Zealand bowlers displayed immense discipline under the lights, with Clarke (3/52) and Zakary Foulkes consistently picking up wickets to dismantle the Indian top order. The clinical nature of their defense was evident as they successfully navigated the Kohli-Rana storm, staying calm during the 21-run over off Kyle Jamieson to eventually wrap up the tail for 296. This 41-run victory marks the first time New Zealand has won a bilateral ODI series in India, a feat that cements this 2026 squad’s place in the annals of New Zealand cricket history.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Well done, New Zealand. Their discipline and execution of the plan is something we can all learn from.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 18, 2026

Phenomenal effort from NZ! Young team, 0-1 behind in the series but their plans, execution, fielding and the ability to stay in the game even when they were behind stood out. What a series Daryl Mitchell has had! New Zealand once again proved to be India’s bogey team. #INDvNZ

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 18, 2026

India. Chase. Virat Kohli. 👑🐐

Do we need to say more? 🇮🇳🔥

8️⃣5️⃣th international century for the King. 🤌#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/VkLR8TUsdR

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 18, 2026

54th ODI century and 7th against New Zealand! An absolute innings of class from Virat Kohli unfolding in Indore. Congratulations @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/85wz6x8hiJ

— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) January 18, 2026

All hail the KING yet again @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/IvntNn7Oeh

— DK (@DineshKarthik) January 18, 2026

On Sunday, the 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 played… and how 💯

[Virat Kohli | Play With Fire | IND vs NZ] pic.twitter.com/fGwY8aLpbv

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 18, 2026

Swept the tests, won their first ever ODI series — New Zealand have handed India a lesson in their own backyard.

Incredible.

— Neal Gardner (@Nealbackup) January 18, 2026

No.54 in ODI cricket.
No.85 in international cricket.

VIRAT KOHLI. THE GREATEST EVER. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/K8ZnBQrveI

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 18, 2026

85th century 🔥🔥🔥

King @imVkohli 👑 pic.twitter.com/cb2QQhfn0V

— Vamsi Kaka (@vamsikaka) January 18, 2026

New Zealand clinch the ODI series with comprehensive win in the decider against India#cricket #INDvNZ #3rdODI pic.twitter.com/I65YmCv6zI

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 18, 2026

Also WATCH: Virat Kohli’s playful gesture steals the show after Daryl Mitchell’s ODI century in Indore

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