India held their nerve in a contest that swung late and often, bowling New Zealand out for 187 to win the fifth and final ODI by 22 runs and wrap up the series three matches to one, a result New Zealand had not conceded at home to India since 2019. Arshdeep Singh was named as the player of the match for his three wickets and 14 valuable runs with the bat. Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan both made important contributions with the bat earlier in the day, while Naman Dhir chipped in with the big wicket of the New Zealand captain late on.

Early hiccups for the Men In Blue

India’s innings began well enough, with Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad finding the boundary inside the first two overs to reach 22 without loss by the five-over mark. New Zealand hit back quickly though, with Matthew Fisher removing Rohit for seven and Virat Kohli for five within a space of three overs, before Jacob Duffy had Gaikwad caught behind to leave India wobbling at 34 for 3. Axar Patel then settled things in the middle overs, timing his drives cleanly through the off side on his way to a valuable 46 that took India past the hundred mark and steadied what had briefly looked like a top-order collapse.

Ishan Kishan drove India to a defendable total

Mitchell Santner picked up three wickets through the middle and lower order, including Naman Dhir who departed after a fighting 22, to leave India in some trouble at 166 for 8. Ishan Kishan dug in and found another gear late, timing two sixes in a single over to reach 46 of his own and give the innings some much-needed late momentum, with support from Arshdeep Singh, who swung hard for two sixes in his brief stay at the crease. India were eventually all out for 209, a total that felt below par on paper but proved just enough.

New Zealand cruised before Arshdeep intervened

New Zealand’s reply started positively before Mohammed Siraj struck early to remove Seifert. Will Young and Nick Kelly steadied the Kiwi ship to a 41/1 at the end of the powerplay. Arshdeep Singh then began to turn the contest India’s way almost single-handedly, picking up Will Young and Nick Kelly either side of the twenty-over mark, the first via a superb diving catch from Gaikwad in the deep. Siraj produced the ball of the innings soon after, nipping one back through Finn Allen’s defenses, before debutant Yash Thakur removed the settled Dean Foxcroft for a well-made 31 to put India back in control at the 32nd over mark.

Santner threatens, but Arshdeep and Axar seal it

New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner then took the game by the scruff of the neck, targeting the spinners and threatening to drag his side home. He eventually fell to Naman Dhir at 24, caught by Arshdeep Singh in the deep, a wicket that involved three current MI players in one incredible moment. Arshdeep struck again soon after to remove Kristian Clarke and finished his ten overs with figures of 3 for 30 along with 2 maidens, comfortably the pick of the bowlers on the day. Axar Patel accounted for the last two wickets, including a stumping to finish the match, as India closed out a contest that went right down to the wire. 

Brief score: INDIA 209 all out in 42.1 overs (Axar Patel 46, Ishan Kishan 46; Mitchell Santner 3/47) won against New Zealand: 187 all out in 48.1 overs (Dean Foxcroft 31, Mitchell Santner 24; Arshdeep Singh 3/30) by 22 runs.