India have played its first bilateral series against New Zealand in New Zealand in 1976 and since then a total of 9 such series (including 1976) have been played so far. Hosts New Zealand had won 5 of those series while India had won just 2 series with the other two drawn.
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| Image Credits: ESPN Cricinfo via Getty Images |
Let us revisit those two ODI series victories of India in New Zealand.
2009:
India registered their first ODI series victory in New Zealand way back in 2009. Including one match being abandoned owing to weather, the Men in Blue prevailed 3-1 in the five-match ODI series. Even though they had dropped the T20I series 2-0 earlier on the same tour, they showed a lot of maturity in the ODI series.
India wanted to score the ODI series in order to maintain their momentum heading into the forthcoming three-game Test Series, which they ultimately won 1-0. Additionally, it was one of India's greatest successful visits to New Zealand, as they were able to sweep the ODI and Test Series. Additionally, it was the first time India had succeeded in taking an ODI series in New Zealand.
This is how the 5-match ODI series went in 2009:
ODI #1 (Napier): India won by 53 runs.
ODI #2 (Wellington): No result.
ODI #3 (Christchurch): India triumphed by 58 runs.
2019:
The Indian cricket squad has always had trouble traveling to New Zealand. The Men in Blue frequently struggled in Kiwis' backyard because of the different playing environments and fast-paced grounds. But things were drastically different during the 2019 ODI series.
Compared to the hosts, in New Zealand, the visitors appeared to have more influence over the game's environment. The Rohit Sharma-led squad won the first match of the series in Napier by a margin of 8 wickets, and the subsequent two games to clinch the 5-match ODI series.
Down and out, the Kiwi team showed some resiliency in the 4th ODI by defeating the Indians by an 8-wicket margin. India concluded the ODI series with a 4-1 victory against New Zealand after battling back from a dismal start in the fifth ODI. This was just India's second ODI series victory in New Zealand since 1976.
ODI #1 (Napier): India won by 8 wickets
ODI #2 (Mount Manganui): India won by 90 runs
ODI #3 (Mount Manganui): India won by 7 wickets
ODI #4 (Hamilton): New Zealand won by 8 wickets
ODI #5 (Wellington): India won by 35 runs
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