New Zealand's chase of 210 in the fifth and deciding one-day international against India was finely balanced at the time of writing, with the hosts 83 for 3 after 21 overs at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Sunday, 15 November 2026.
India, defending 209, struck early through Mohammed Siraj, who removed opener Tim Seifert for 14. Will Young and Nick Kelly then steadied the chase, but India kept taking wickets: Young fell in the 17th over and Kelly was dismissed for 24 off 45 balls in the 21st over, leaving New Zealand needing 127 more runs from 174 balls, with Dean Foxcroft and Finn Allen at the crease.
The match is the decider of a five-match series that India lead 2-1. India won the first one-day international by five wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method and the second by four runs, also under DLS, before the third match in Hamilton was washed out. New Zealand hit back in the fourth ODI at the same ground, posting 333 and bowling India out for 89 to win by 244 runs.
What is at stake is simple. If New Zealand chase down 210, the series ends 2-2, and India will leave New Zealand without the series win they came for. If India defend 209, they take the series 3-1 and claim their first bilateral one-day series win in New Zealand since 2018-19.
India's batting has been the story of the closing stages of the series. After being bowled out for 89 in the fourth ODI, they managed only 209 in the decider, with no batter reaching a half-century. Virat Kohli's series underlines the struggle: his scores in the series read 74, 7, 0 and 5, a total of 86 runs in four innings, after starting the series with 74 off 51 balls in the opening match.
New Zealand's chase is being built around the same batting order that posted 333 two days earlier, when Will Young scored a career-best 125 and Tim Seifert made 58. But India's bowlers, led by Siraj's early breakthrough, have given the visitors a chance to defend a below-par total.
Whatever the result, the two teams now turn to a two-match Test series starting on 19 November. Several players, including Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Gurnoor Brar, have already left the one-day squads to prepare for the Tests.
At the time of writing, the result of the fifth ODI was not yet known. New Zealand needed 127 runs with seven wickets in hand, and the match was heading for a tense finish.
Key Questions
What is the score in the NZ vs IND 5th ODI chase? At the time of writing, New Zealand were 83 for 3 after 21 overs, chasing 210 to win. They needed 127 more runs from 174 balls.
Who has taken wickets for India in the chase? Mohammed Siraj removed Tim Seifert for 14. Will Young and Nick Kelly were also dismissed as New Zealand slipped to 83 for 3.
What happens if New Zealand win the 5th ODI? A New Zealand win levels the five-match series 2-2. An India win gives India the series 3-1, their first bilateral ODI series win in New Zealand since 2018-19.
What is the series score so far? India lead 2-1. India won the first two ODIs, the third was washed out, and New Zealand won the fourth ODI by 244 runs.
When does the Test series between India and New Zealand start? The two-match Test series starts on 19 November 2026.