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India Edge New Zealand by 4 Runs on DLS in Rain-Hit Wellington ODI to Go 2-0 Up
India beat New Zealand by four runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in a rain-ruined second ODI in Wellington on 7 November 2026 — Gurnoor Brar's 4…
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Rain Seals It: India Win the ODI Series in New Zealand as the Hamilton Match Is Washed Out Without a Ball Bowled
TL;DR — the direct answer: Rain had the final word at Seddon Park: the third ODI between New Zealand and India was abandoned on Tuesday, 10 November, without a ball being bowled — and with it, India sealed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
What happened: Persistent rain through the day at Seddon Park in Hamilton meant no play was possible in the third one-day international on Tuesday, 10 November. The toss was delayed by about two hours and the match was initially reduced to a 40-over contest; India captain Shubman Gill won the toss for the third successive match and elected to bowl, but the drizzle returned while the captains were still in the middle, and repeated ground inspections failed to produce playable conditions. The umpires eventually called the match off before the local cut-off time of 7:50pm for a 20-over contest. No score was recorded: neither side batted, no bowler delivered a ball, and no Player of the Match award was made.
Why it's trending: The washout decides the series with two matches still to play. India keep their 2-0 lead, which means they can no longer lose the five-match contest — New Zealand can only draw level by winning both remaining games. It also ends New Zealand's streak of 11 consecutive bilateral ODI series victories on home soil, a run stretching back to 2019. The match was also the last of the tour for Gill, who now hands the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer for the fourth and fifth ODIs; wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul also leaves the squad to join the Test side in Wellington. India named an unchanged side for Hamilton, so Gurnoor Brar — the leading wicket-taker in the series with seven — will have to wait until Friday for another bowl.
Background / context: The series has been soaked from the start: all three matches have been affected by rain. India won the opener in Auckland by five wickets and the second in Wellington by four runs, both decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after rain interruptions. In Wellington, New Zealand were bowled out for 134 in 41 overs before India's chase was interrupted, and KL Rahul's unbeaten 26 helped see the visitors home. Hamilton has done this to India before: on 27 November 2022, an ODI at Seddon Park was also washed out, with India 89 for 1 after 12.5 overs, Gill on 45 and Suryakumar Yadav on 34. India had already won the preceding Twenty20 series 3-2.
What we know / what's unconfirmed: Confirmed: the abandonment, the toss, the series position, the captaincy change and the remaining fixtures. The BCCI confirmed the washout on X, and the ICC's published itinerary lists the remaining matches at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Friday, 13 November and Sunday, 15 November. Unconfirmed: the final shape of the series — whether India win it outright or New Zealand force a 2-2 draw — which depends entirely on the last two games and the weather in Mount Maunganui.
What happens next: The series moves to Mount Maunganui for the final two ODIs on 13 and 15 November, with Shreyas Iyer leading India. New Zealand must win both to finish level at 2-2; any other result gives India the series.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Why was the third ODI abandoned?
A: Persistent rain at Seddon Park in Hamilton on 10 November meant no play was possible. The toss was held — Gill chose to bowl — but the outfield stayed too wet and the umpires called it off.
Q: What does the washout mean for the series?
A: India keep their 2-0 lead with two matches left, so they cannot lose the series. New Zealand can only draw it 2-2 by winning both remaining games.
Q: Who captains India now?
A: Shreyas Iyer takes over for the fourth and fifth ODIs. The Hamilton match was Shubman Gill's last game of the tour; KL Rahul also leaves to join the Test squad.
Q: When are the remaining matches?
A: The fourth ODI is on Friday, 13 November and the fifth on Sunday, 15 November, both at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.
Q: How did India take the 2-0 lead?
A: A five-wicket win in the rain-affected Auckland opener, then a four-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in Wellington. Both matches were interrupted by rain.
Sources: SportsAdda — Hamilton was washed out without a ball bowled, and India can no longer lose the ODI series, MyKhel — India vs New Zealand: what third ODI washout means as India seal series, and Farm Online / AP — Black Caps' run over without ball bowled in third ODI.
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