India’s Virat Kohli performs a shot all the diagram in which through the third ODI cricket match between India and Original Zealand, at Holkar Cricket Stadium, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit ranking: PTI
Virat Kohli’s prosperous vein of form and Harshit Rana exhibiting all-round talents were amongst the obvious parts but the Indian crew has a “lot of areas” that need development, acknowledged skipper Shubman Gill after ODI sequence loss to Original Zealand on Sunday (January 19, 2026).
Kohli struck his document-extending 54th ODI ton but India misplaced by 41 runs in a steep toddle scurry of 338, being bowled out for 296 in 46 overs in the sequence-decider.
India had slumped to 71 for four in acknowledge and no matter half of-centuries from Nitish Kumar Reddy (53) and Rana (52), the hosts fell manner short on what largely remained a batting-pleasant pitch with runt boundaries at the Holkar Stadium.
“After the principle match, coming here 1-1, the manner we played, (we’re) disillusioned,” Gill acknowledged at the presentation ceremony.
“There are areas we must survey abet, replicate and diagram better. The manner Virat is batting is continually is a plus. The manner Harshit has batted on this sequence, batting at No. 8 is powerful. The manner he stepped up and the manner the snappy bowlers bowled on this sequence turned into staunch moreover.
“Keeping the World Cup in solutions, we must give him (Nitish Kumar Reddy) alternatives and we must give him sufficient overs and gaze what more or much less combinations work for us and what more or much less deliveries work for him,” Gill added.
Gill’s comments on Nitish in particular got here after Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted after the defeat in the 2d ODI that the all-rounder turned into no longer “doing a heck of lots” in the sport time that he turned into being given.
Adjudged the Player of the Series for his ratings of 84, 131 no longer out and 137 in the ODI sequence, Daryl Mitchell acknowledged staying in the level to labored well for him.
“It is actually good to make a contribution to the crew. To win here in India is special. As a community, the manner we built partnerships, it be good to be up there,” Mitchell acknowledged.
“I am on the lookout for to protect in the level to and with any luck fetch the correct choices. I love taking half in for my nation. All those years in domestic cricket helped me,” added the 34-year-passe, who turned into also a portion of Original Zealand aspect which beat India 3-0 in the Take a look at sequence in 2024-25.
Original Zealand, who were with out a few of their preferred frontline gamers for the ODI sequence, obtained their first-ever sequence in India since 1988 under the captaincy of Michael Bracewell.
“First time a NZ crew has obtained an ODI sequence here, that is special. You mostly hope to shut here and play staunch cricket. As a community, now we enjoy caught to what we diagram well,” Bracewell acknowledged.
“We’re the sum of the whole parts of the crew and work as a community. We’re a runt nation from the bottom of the sphere and take on enormous ones. Mitchell’s been wonderful in ODIs for a different of years.
“He is a humble guy, seeing him fetch his rewards is special. Having three debutants this sequence and attending to expertise the crowds has been icy. Rising the depth of cricket in NZ is superior,” he added.
Jayden Lennox, who made his debut in the sequence and played a key position in their near-from-in the abet of wins in the closing two ODIs, acknowledged the sequence win reveals the expertise in Original Zealand cricket.
“I judge the aim of the left-arm spinners briefly form is to be unpredictable, strive to protect out of the shorter aspect and survey to fetch under the batter. It is no longer too subtle, it be all about execution,” he acknowledged.
“The atmosphere, I assumed will fetch me more fearful, but very very special to be portion of a series winning crew.
“It staunch reveals the depth of Original Zealand cricket, now we enjoy got a slightly inexperienced line-up, but there’s quite a few expertise abet dwelling and kudos to the place aside of abode-up abet dwelling that we’re performing in enormous moments and in enormous sequence on enormous phases,” he added.
Published – January 19, 2026 07:13 am IST
