India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: Gurnoor Brar takes 4 wickets as India secure a 4-run DLS win in Wellington, taking a 2-0 lead in the series
DELHI: India secured a thrilling four-run victory over New Zealand under the DLS method in the second ODI at Hnry Stadium, Wellington, on November 7, 2026. Gurnoor Brar led India’s bowling attack with a career-best four-wicket haul as the visitors restricted New Zealand to 134 runs. However, India’s batters struggled during the chase before rain ended the contest. The victory gives India a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.
How India Bowled New Zealand Out for 134
India’s bowlers made excellent use of the conditions after Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field. Rain delayed the start, and the weather reduced the match to 47 overs per side. The pitch also offered movement and inconsistent bounce, which made batting difficult.
Auqib Nabi gave India an early advantage by removing Tim Seifert and Will Young. Anshul Kamboj then dismissed Henry Nicholls, leaving New Zealand struggling at 23/3.
New Zealand could not build a strong partnership in the middle overs either. India’s disciplined pace attack kept the pressure on the hosts and restricted their scoring opportunities. New Zealand eventually managed only 134 runs in 41 overs.
Daryl Mitchell’s Lone Fight
Daryl Mitchell once again showed his ability to handle pressure against India. The New Zealand batter scored 55 runs from 104 deliveries, including four boundaries and a six.
Mitchell lost partners at regular intervals, but he continued to hold one end together. Tom Latham offered some support before Gurnoor Brar removed him in the 20th over.
Mitchell later found an important partner in captain Mitchell Santner. The pair added 59 runs for the sixth wicket and helped New Zealand cross the 100-run mark. However, Axar Patel ended Mitchell’s resistance when the batter attempted a big shot.
Santner contributed 31 runs from 38 balls, but New Zealand could not build on the partnership. India dismissed the remaining batters and finished the innings at 134.
Gurnoor Brar’s Career-Best Spell
Gurnoor Brar emerged as India’s biggest match-winner with the ball. The fast bowler claimed four wickets for 30 runs in his 10 overs and earned the Player of the Match award.
His most important contribution came in the 20th over. Brar dismissed Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips in quick succession, putting New Zealand under serious pressure at 53/5.
He also removed Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner towards the end of the innings. Brar maintained control over his line and length and used the conditions effectively.
His performance gave India an important advantage, particularly after the team’s bowlers had already dominated the opening ODI in Auckland.
India’s Shaky Chase and the Rain Twist
India needed 135 runs to win, but their batters struggled against New Zealand’s fast bowlers.
Jacob Duffy dismissed Shubman Gill for a golden duck before removing Virat Kohli for just seven runs. Kyle Jamieson then sent Rohit Sharma back for 23, leaving India in trouble.
India reached 47/4 after Axar Patel also departed. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul attempted to rebuild the innings with a useful partnership. Iyer scored 30 runs, while Rahul remained unbeaten on 26 from 38 deliveries.
However, Jamieson dismissed Iyer, and New Zealand continued to pick up wickets. Naman Dhir contributed 12 runs before Jacob Duffy removed him. Jamieson then dismissed Anshul Kamboj.
India reached 113/7 after 26 overs when another spell of rain interrupted play. Rahul remained unbeaten, with Auqib Nabi alongside him.
The weather did not allow the teams to resume the match, leaving India dependent on the DLS calculation.
How the DLS Result Worked: India Won by Four Runs
The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method helps officials calculate revised targets in rain-affected limited-overs matches. It considers the overs remaining and the wickets available to estimate each team’s scoring resources.
At the time of the final interruption, India’s score stood at 113/7 after 26 overs. The DLS par score stood at 109, meaning India had scored four runs more than the score required to stay ahead under the revised conditions.
Since rain prevented any further play, the match officials declared India winners by four runs under the DLS method.
This result gave India their second consecutive victory in the series. The visitors had also beaten New Zealand by five wickets under DLS in the opening ODI at Eden Park, Auckland.
Batting Worries for India Despite the Victory
India will welcome the series lead, but their batting performance raises questions ahead of the remaining matches.
The team had a modest target of 135 runs, yet lost seven wickets before reaching 113. Gill and Kohli failed to make significant contributions, while Rohit could not convert his start into a bigger innings.
Iyer and Rahul provided some stability, but India still struggled to control the chase. The middle order also needs to show greater consistency when facing New Zealand’s pace attack.
The bowling department has delivered in both matches. However, India will want their top and middle-order batters to take greater responsibility rather than depend on rain-affected finishes.
What’s Next in the India vs New Zealand ODI Series?
India now hold a commanding 2-0 advantage in the five-match series. New Zealand need to win the next match to keep their hopes of a series comeback alive.
The third ODI will take place at Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 10. The teams will then travel to Mount Maunganui for the final two matches on November 13 and 15.
India will look to extend their winning run, while New Zealand must find a way to counter India’s fast bowlers and improve their batting performance.
The next match will also give India another opportunity to address their batting concerns before the series moves towards its final two games.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: Match Scorecard
| Team / Player | Score |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 134 all out (41 overs) |
| Daryl Mitchell | 55 (104) |
| Mitchell Santner | 31 (38) |
| Gurnoor Brar | 4/30 |
| Auqib Nabi | 2 wickets |
| Anshul Kamboj | 2 wickets |
| Axar Patel | 2 wickets |
| India | 113/7 (26 overs) |
| Shreyas Iyer | 30 |
| KL Rahul | 26* (38) |
| Rohit Sharma | 23 |
| Kyle Jamieson | 3/35 |
| Jacob Duffy | 3/35 |
India won by 4 runs (DLS)
- Series score: India lead 2-0.
- Player of the Match: Gurnoor Brar.
- Venue: Hnry Stadium, Wellington.
- Date: November 7, 2026.
Remaining ODI fixtures:
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd ODI | November 10 | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| 4th ODI | November 13 | Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui |
| 5th ODI | November 15 | Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui |
