India routed by New Zealand at Bay Oval in fourth ODI as batting collapses to 89

India were routed by New Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui in the fourth ODI of the five-match series, played during the series that began on November 4, 2026. New Zealand made 333 batting first and India were dismissed for 89, losing by 244 runs.

Rain affected several fixtures in the series; India won the opening two matches via the DLS method and the third ODI was washed out. The fourth match was not impacted by weather—India won the toss and chose to bowl while New Zealand batted first. The hosts posted a large total of 333 in 50 overs on a pitch that had looked batting-friendly, yet India’s chase never developed.

The Bay Oval surface offered considerable seam movement and some uneven bounce, but India’s bowlers were unable to exploit those conditions consistently. Fielding lapses compounded the issue, with Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan each dropping Will Young, who went on to score a brilliant century. Those missed chances helped New Zealand reach 333 and increased the challenge for India’s chasing side.

India’s reply collapsed immediately when Matt Henry removed three wickets in the first over. Rohit Sharma fell to the first delivery after edging the ball outside off, Virat Kohli was bowled, and Shreyas Iyer was adjudged LBW, leaving India 0/3 with no runs on the board. The side then failed to construct meaningful partnerships and ultimately crumbled under the mounting pressure.

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul were absent from India’s playing XI after leaving the ODI squad to join the Test camp scheduled to begin on November 19. Gill has been India’s leading run-scorer in 2026 in ODIs, and the piece notes KL Rahul is known for stepping up and rescuing the team in crucial situations; India missed both players as New Zealand bowlers produced a lethal spell.

The defeat raised questions about both the bowling and batting departments after a disappointing collective performance, and India remain uncomfortable with the bat in conditions described as overcast. Despite leading the series 2–1 going into the fourth match, the Men in Blue were comprehensively outplayed at Bay Oval.

The fifth and final ODI will be played on November 15, 2026, at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.