Batters need to fire as India targets series win

The Indian batters would be determined to put up a much improved performance against the seamless ball with the series at stake in the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand on Sunday (November 15, 2026).

India leads 2-1 despite its second-heaviest loss by runs in ODIs in the fourth ODI here on Friday (November 13, 2026).

The Indian batters came a cropper in seaming conditions with Matt Henry effectively sealing the game for his team in his opening over by striking thrice. India were bowled out for 89 in 26.4 overs while chasing 334.

India needs to get better on pace-friendly surfaces, as it could get similar conditions in the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.

Considering the collective failure of the batting line-up, it would not be fair to single out an individual. Having said that, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, who had a forgettable captaincy debut, are yet to make an impact.

While Henry squared Rohit up with a beauty, Sheyas was caught in the crease against a sharp incoming delivery on Friday.

For Rohit and Virat Kohli, the game presents a final opportunity to enthral the crowd on probably their last tour of New Zealand. Kohli, too, had no response to Henry’s magic in the last outing.

Stand-in captain Shreyas said conditions changed drastically in favour of the bowlers in the second innings.

New Zealand, on the other hand, finds itself in another must-win situation as it aims to level the series. Opener Tim Seifert may have resurrected his career with a fifty in the fourth ODI, while Young, who was dropped twice in the slip cordon, went on to make a fine hundred.

The Indian pacers will need to stop the openers from taking the game away from them in the first 10 overs. The Black Caps have not lost a bilateral ODI series at home in seven years.

Match starts at 7.30 a.m. IST.