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Fans react after Virat Kohli’s 54th ODI century goes in vain as New Zealand register historic series win over India in Indore

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A heartbreaking conclusion, a valiant effort for the home fans in Indore. Virat Kohli (124) and Harshit Rana (52) proved in vain as New Zealand won their first ODI series on Indian soil. Despite Kohli’s brilliant 54th ODI century and Rana’s fearless first half-century, India fell short by 41 runs while chasing the mammoth target of 338 and finished with 296 runs. The match was defined by New Zealand’s sustained pressure and clinical execution, which ensured that even a great ‘chess master’ performance could not prevent a historic 2–1 series defeat. As the final wicket fell in the 46th over, a rare sight was witnessed at Holkar Stadium: the victorious Kiwis were celebrating a milestone that had eluded them for decades.

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

The Indian chase was the story of a lone warrior finding unexpected allies in the closing stages of the match. Earlier in the innings, when India were playing at 71/4, the young player Nitish Kumar Reddy He played an important role in the recovery by scoring 53 runs in 57 balls. Reddy’s maiden ODI half-century, celebrated with his trademark “Pushpa”, provided the early spark for India, as he along with Kohli stitched an 88-run partnership to steady the ship.

After his departure, Rana came forward to join Kohli in the set and together they made a stormy partnership of 99 runs in just 69 balls. Rana, known primarily for his pace, showcased his batting range by hitting 4 fours and 4 sixes, completing his maiden ODI half-century in just 41 balls and silencing the Kiwi attack momentarily. At the other end, Kohli was the epitome of focused aggression, completing his century in 91 balls and eventually reaching a magnificent 124.

However, the turning point came in the 46th over when Kohli was attempting to clear the long-on boundary Christian Clarkcaught by darryl mitchell. Rana was out just one over after playing a brilliant innings of 52 runs and after two sets of batsmen were gone, the tail batsmen could not bear the pressure. While their combined stand took India within striking distance, the lack of specialist support in the middle order meant that Kohli’s masterclass, supported by the heroics of Reddy and Rana, ultimately ended in defeat.

See also: IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli’s sharp reaction after unexpected fielding mistake in Indore ODI

Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips lead New Zealand to historic ODI series win against India

The foundation of New Zealand’s historic victory was laid by a historic partnership of 219 runs between the two. Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106). After being reduced to 58/3 from an inspired opening spell of Arshdeep Singh and Rana, both 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 century of the series and Phillips’ explosive 88-ball century took the visitors to a strong score of 337/8, a total that always looked challenging despite the short boundaries of Indore. In the second innings, New Zealand’s bowlers displayed tremendous discipline under lights, with Clarke (3/52) and Zachary Foulkes taking consecutive wickets to dismantle the Indian top order. The clinical nature of their defense was evident as they successfully weathered the Kohli-Rana storm, remaining calm during the 21-run over. kyle jamison Ultimately it was reduced to 296 runs. This 41-run win is the first time New Zealand has won a bilateral ODI series in India, a feat that has cemented the 2026 team’s place in the annals of New Zealand cricket history.

Here’s how fans reacted:

See also: Virat Kohli’s playful style caught everyone’s attention after Daryl Mitchell’s ODI century in Indore.

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