An Indian team without skipper Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni saw the Men in BLue record their lowest-ever ODI total in New Zealand after the Kiwis won by 8 wickets in the 4th ODI in Hamilton, courtesy of Trent Boult's fiery fifer. (Match Highlights)
A hapless India side were bundled out for a paltry total of 92 in the fourth and penultimate ODI, their seventh-lowest total in the 50-over format on Thursday. (Match Scorecard)
Also, it was the biggest ever win against India in terms of balls to spare in an ODI - 212. Winning with balls to spare vs India-
- India vs New Zealand - 212, Hamilton, 2019*
- India vs Sri Lanka - 209, Dambulla, 2010
- India vs Sri Lanka - 181, Hambantota, 2012
- India vs Sri Lanka - 176, Dharamsala, 2017
- India vs Australia - 174, Sydney, 1981
Bowling his 10 overs at a stretch, Boult troubled the Indian batsmen with his swing to return with impressive figures of 5 for 21.
In the absence of Kohli and Dhoni, the Indian batting unit found the going tough against the Kiwi bowling attack and lost wickets regularly to slump to their seventh lowest ODI total.
India's lowest ODI total is 54 against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 2000. It was also India's second-lowest total in ODIs against New Zealand, having somehow managing to surpass the 88 scored at Dambulla.
It was not as if the pitch was unplayable, but Indian batsmen lacked application against the swing bowling of Boult and Grandhomme.
Only four Indian batsmen -- Shikhar Dhawan (13), Hardik Pandya (16), Kuldeep Yadav (15) and Yuzvendra Chahal (18 not out) -- posted double-digit scores.
Skipper Rohit Sharma, who is leading India in the last two matches of the series in the absence of Virat Kohli, didn't have a happy outing on his 200th ODI as he was caught by Boult of his own bowling an over later.
The mast match of the series is on Sunday in Wellington.
(With PTI Inputs)
