India vs New Zealand Highlights 3rd ODI at Indore: Kohli's fighting century in vain as Black Caps win ODI series 2-1

New Zealand had not won a Test on Indian soil in 35 years ahead of their tour in October 2024, and ended up whitewashing the Rohit Sharma-led hosts 3-0, derailing their hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Test Championship final.

A little over a year later, they’ve achieved another first – this time winning their maiden ODI series in this part of the world. That too with a relatively inexperienced squad, especially on the bowling front.

Kuldeep Yadav is the last Indian batter to fall, and whose else by Glenn Phillips – one of the best fielders in the world – to run him out after responding to Arshdeep Singh’s call for a quick single! India are bowled out for 296 in 46 overs as New Zealand completes a 2-1 series victory with a 41-run victory at the Holkar Stadium!

And this despite the Black Caps missing several key players including white-ball captain Mitchell Santner and star batter Kane Williamson!

Here’s what Virat Kohli’s IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted following his 54th ODI ton:

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

The former India opener goes on to label him ‘Virat GOAT Kohli’!

Kohli is Unstoppable. Batting as good as we’ve ever seen him bat in his favourite format.
Virat GOAT Kohli 🙌😇 #IndvNZ

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 18, 2026

New Zealand have kept tightening their grip on this game with consistent wickets. Virat Kohli is batting on 73 off 75 but can Harshit Rana give him company? It is getting out of reach of the Indian team now, to be honest.

IND 181-6(34) need 157 from 96

Frustration rises on the face of the fans in Indore as Ravindra Jadeja loses his wicket. Another big hope of India cannot deliver and the loss looks further closer now. Jayden Lennox foxes Jadeja as he has him caught at deep mid-wicket. A victory from here would be a miracle for India.

IND 178-6(32.1)

Glenn Phillips has bowled five overs for 30 runs while Jayden Lennox has given only 29 runs in his seven overs. They both have really done well and put Indian batters under pressure, especially with captain Michael Bracewell unavailable to bowl.

IND 178-5(32)

Fans are not happy with the performance of India’s top order

It's so heartbreaking that our Indian Team is still dependent on a 'Non committal 37 year old' Virat Kohli. pic.twitter.com/7Kv0Z34D59

— Atharv Shukla (@Atharb_) January 18, 2026

Shubman Gill is just not that guy. When pressure rises in big matches, his bat goes silent. Talent is useless if it disappears when the team needs it most. You can’t build trust on promise alone. Big games expose reality. #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/n5IHqykIQB

— Masked Man 👤 (@RealMaskedMan_X) January 18, 2026

I don't know, Why is no one questioning Shreyas Iyer?

He never performs when India needs him.
Let’s be honest — Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson are way better. pic.twitter.com/9hWfxVxzun

— Abhishek Kumar (@Abhishek060722) January 18, 2026

India have not lost an ODI series to New Zealand and today that might change. Between history and New Zealand stands Virat Kohli. If New Zealand get Kohli’s wicket, they will extend their chances to win. At this time, the Kiwis definitely look in control.

IND 170-5(30) need 168 runs from 120 balls

Nitish Kumar Reddy was taking on the Kiwi bowling and now he perishes. He looks to nail a pull shot off Kristian Clarke but the fielder at mid-wicket takes the catch. Reddy is walking back for 53 and the 88-run stand has been broken.

IND 159-5(27.3)

Nitish Kumar Reddy has an ODI half-century to his name now. Glenn Phillips bowls it full and Reddy stands tall to send the ball over long-on for a big six. Massive hit this one to bring up a very measured half-century. He has shifted gears now. New Zealand will have to put the pressure back otherwise, India can turn things around here.

IND 156-4(26.4)

Nitish Kumar Reddy sees a short ball and is quick to slam a pull and send it out of the fine leg boundary. First six of the night for Reddy and India are keeping up in this game. He is now seven runs away from his half-century.

IND 147-4(26)

Glenn Phillips fires it quick towards Virat Kohli’s pads and the batter just flicks it behind him to get an easy boundary. India take eight runs from the 25th over.

IND 135-4(25)

Best shot so far from this innings of Kohli:

𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙭𝙞𝙢𝙪𝙢 💥

That's a cracking shot from Virat Kohli 🔥

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/KR2ertVUf5#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/7DbnPNDQYd

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2026

78th half-century in ODI cricket for Virat Kohli. Amid all the pressure surrounding him, he is still batting with control and has got to his fifty in 51 balls. India need a big one from him here.

IND 120-4(22.2)

Daryl Mitchell comes to bowl. He is right now captaining the side as Michael Bracewell remains absent from the field due a an issue in the calf. Mitchell is greeted by Nitish Kumar Reddy with a four. India take 10 runs from this over.

IND 108-4(20)

New Zealand are sensing something big here. Still a lot of time left in this game and anything can happen but things are getting tough for India. No boundaries for 34 balls now.

IND 98-4(19)

Just one run from this Kristian Clarke over and things have gone really quiet now. Just 16 runs from the last six overs with the big wickets of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer gone. Virat Kohli and Nitish Kumar Reddy trying to help India recover here.

IND 83-4(16)

Virat Kohli and Nitish Kumar Reddy have to pull India out of trouble here. The run rate is decent so they do not have to worry about scoring boundaries. The focus must be on finding consistent singles and doubles. Big chance for Reddy to prove his worth.

IND 82-4(15)

Jayden Lennox comes into the attack and gets the big wicket of KL Rahul with his fourth ball. Rahul is gone for just 1. The game is completely in New Zealand’s grip now. Virat Kohli is struggling to find any support from the other end.

IND 71-4(13)

Massive wicket by Kristian Clarke. Shreyas Iyer aims to go for a pull and gives the easiest of catches to mid-on. Poor shot from Iyer and he will get just 3 from this innings. New Zealand are in total control here.

IND 68-3(11.2)

Kristian Clarke dismissed Virat Kohli in the previous match but that is not bothering the great man tonight as he fires back-to-back fours in this over.

IND 67-2(10)

Virat Kohli once again is looking like he is seeing the ball like a football. He has already raced 19 from just 20 balls even though two wickets have fallen. Yet again he brings out his cover drive and gets a boundary off Kyle Jamieson.

IND 57-2(9)

Shubman Gill has been cleaned up. The zing bails are all lit up and the indian captain is undone by the incoming delivery. Kyle Jamieson gets the wicket as this ball comes back sharply to hit the stumps. Gill can only score 23 tonight.

IND 45-2(6.4)

Wow! Virat Kohli is in supreme for and he shows a glimpse of that here. Short from Zak Foulkes and Kohli rocks on the backfoot to pull the ball with disdain all the way over the mid-wicket boundary. What a shot!

IND 40-1(6)

Kyle Jamieson also got an outside edge, this time of Virat Kohli, but the ball landed ahead of the first slip. He has bowled a brilliant over here, giving away only a single run.

IND 29–1(5)