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Key Takeaways
- 1📊 India conceded 191 runs for 1 wicket in middle overs (11-40) in final match
- 2🏆 New Zealand claim first-ever ODI series win in India after 37 years
- 3💡 Gill refuses excuses despite missing Bumrah and Pandya; credits Kiwi excellence
- 4🔮 New Zealand's dominance continues after 3-0 Test whitewash 16 months ago
"India captain Shubman Gill pointed to costly fielding lapses and middle-overs struggles after New Zealand sealed their first-ever ODI series win over India"
Shubman Gill offered no excuses as India suffered a series defeat to New Zealand, with the Indian captain acknowledging that his team was simply outplayed across all departments. New Zealand claimed their first-ever ODI series victory on Indian soil in eight attempts, ending a 37-year drought in the process—a historic achievement that adds another chapter to their recent dominance over the Men in Blue.
Middle Overs Prove Costly for India
Despite missing key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, Gill refused to use the absence of proven white-ball performers as justification for the series loss. The Indian captain was particularly critical of his team's performance in the middle overs, an area where India had struggled throughout the series and failed to address in the decisive final match.
On Sunday in Indore, with the series locked at 1-1, India conceded a damaging 191 runs while claiming just one wicket between the 11th and 40th overs. This middle-overs collapse proved decisive, as New Zealand capitalized on the loose bowling and field placements to build an insurmountable position.
"We were a good enough side to beat them, but they outplayed us in every aspect—bowling, batting, and fielding." — Shubman Gill
The defeat carries added significance given New Zealand's 3-0 Test series whitewash over India just 16 months earlier. The Kiwis have now established themselves as a formidable opponent across formats, with India needing serious introspection before their next international assignment.
