Just when you thought you’d seen it all, New Zealand went and did it again. Back in 2024, they quietly rewrote history by winning their first-ever Test series in India. Fast forward to 2026, and here they are once more, upsetting the natural order—this time in the 50-over format. A largely second-string Kiwi side, missing several household names, have beaten India on their own turf to clinch their first-ever ODI series win in India. If you’ve been catching up via clips and scorecards, the India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI highlights tell a story that feels half fairytale, half lesson in calm, clever cricket.

IND vs NZ 3rd ODI：Setting the Scene in Indore

Holkar Stadium is usually a batter’s playground, the sort of ground where 330 feels chaseable and 380 isn’t unheard of. India won the toss, New Zealand batted, and from the outside it looked like the perfect setup for the hosts. But as the India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI match result would later confirm, conditions alone don’t win you games. New Zealand arrived at the decider 1-1, carrying belief built not on reputation, but on execution. Eight players had never even toured India before this series. It showed not in nerves, but in refreshing fearlessness.

Another special knock from Daryl Mitchell 🤯#INDvNZ | 📸 BCCI pic.twitter.com/AT4jL5Okg1

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 18, 2026

New Zealand’s innings didn’t start smoothly. At 58 for 3, India sensed blood. Then Daryl Mitchell walked into his now-favourite office: batting against India in India. What followed was a masterclass in tempo. Mitchell’s 137 was all timing, balance, and selective brutality, while Glenn Phillips provided the electricity. Their 219-run fourth-wicket stand flipped the game completely and forms the backbone of any serious look at the India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI highlights. Phillips’ 106 off 88 balls felt like controlled chaos, fast hands, clean hitting, and zero fuss. Suddenly, 337 for 8 wasn’t just competitive; it was commanding.

There were bright spots. Mohammed Siraj bowled with heart and intelligence at the death, while Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana picked up three wickets apiece. But India’s spin resources, usually decisive at home, were oddly subdued. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja struggled for control and confidence, and New Zealand’s batters made sure there was no quiet middle phase. By the halfway point, the India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI match result was already tilting, even if the crowd didn’t fully realise it yet.

CENTURY!

A sensational 54th ODI 💯 from @imVkohli 🫡🫡

He is keeping India’s hopes alive in this chase.#TeamIndia #INDvNZ #3rdODI @IDFCfirstbank pic.twitter.com/LJkhKSpsVR

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2026

India’s reply began with optimism and quickly slid into discomfort. Early wickets left them 71 for 4, and once again, the familiar image appeared: Virat Kohli standing amid the wreckage. His 124 was vintage Kohli, adaptive, stubborn, occasionally explosive. He rebuilt patiently, then attacked when the equation demanded it. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana played fearless supporting roles with maiden ODI fifties, briefly dragging the contest back within reach. For a moment, the India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI highlights hinted at another miraculous chase.

But big chases require perfect endings, and India couldn’t quite manage that. The asking rate crept up, risks increased, and when Kohli finally fell, having dragged the target down to something almost reasonable, the air went out of the stadium. New Zealand’s bowlers didn’t panic. Jayden Lennox’s control through the middle overs and Kristian Clarke’s knack for timely wickets sealed the deal.

What This Means for New Zealand?

Strip away the numbers, and this is what makes the win extraordinary: it wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t a full-strength New Zealand XI. It wasn’t a once-in-a-generation fluke. It was planning, depth, and players understanding their roles perfectly. Winning an ODI series in India has long been one of cricket’s final frontiers for touring sides. Doing it with a non-first-choice squad turns this into a landmark moment.

New Zealand bring up another historic series win in India 🇳🇿🏆🏆

✅ Maiden Test series victory
✅ Maiden bilateral ODI series victory #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/ryywdLD1Tv

— Sport360° (@Sport360) January 18, 2026

India’s Uncomfortable Questions

For India, this loss stings in a different way. Home defeats in ODIs are rare; series losses even more so. The talent is obvious, but the balance feels fragile. The lower middle order looks thin, spin bowling lacked bite, and tactical clarity wavered under pressure. Kohli’s brilliance masked deeper issues, but only temporarily. As the India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI match result settles into the record books, it leaves behind questions about direction, selection, and how invincible India really are at home anymore.

A historic series victory for New Zealand in India 🏆 pic.twitter.com/wjiiBc4Ksu

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 18, 2026

This series didn’t end with fireworks or controversy. And perhaps that’s the most New Zealand thing of all. No noise, no drama, just another box ticked in their growing habit of doing the unthinkable. From Tests in 2024 to ODIs in 2026, they’ve turned India into a place where history is possible.