In Indore, India fought till the very end, stayed in the contest longer than the scoreboard might suggest, but ultimately fell short by 41 runs in the series decider.

Winning the toss and opting to chase, the belief was there. The fight was there. The result, however, went New Zealand’s way.

Here’s how it unfolded 👇

Bright start with the ball

India began on the right note.

Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh struck early to apply pressure, reducing New Zealand to 58/3 and putting the visitors on the back foot. The energy was high, the intent clear.

That’s when the game turned. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips steadied the innings before shifting gears, stitching together a decisive 219-run partnership. Despite India’s efforts to claw back, New Zealand closed on 337/8, setting up a steep chase.

Tough day with the bat

Chasing a stiff target, India never quite found momentum.

Early setbacks meant the chase had to be rebuilt, but the required rate kept creeping up. Virat Kohli, though, stood tall yet again, bringing up his 54th ODI hundred in trademark fashion.

Support came in the form of fighting fifties from Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who showed intent and belief even as the odds stacked up. But on the night, it wasn’t enough to take India home.

A hard-fought series, a tough result, but no shortage of effort or heart.

The focus now shifts forward, with the #MenInBlue set to regroup and look to bounce back in the shorter format. 👊