The second ODI defeat was New Zealand's 11th loss against India in 2026, the most defeats for New Zealand against a single opponent in a calendar year. The previous record was 10 defeats against Australia in 2005.
The record covers all formats played between the two sides during the year. India have beaten New Zealand consistently across the calendar, and the Wellington result added one more to a long list.
New Zealand trail the current five-match ODI series 0-2 after losing the first two games. The third ODI in Hamilton on Tuesday, 10 November, is now a match they must win to keep the series alive.
A year of one-sided results
Eleven defeats in a single calendar year against one opponent is a heavy record for any team. It reflects how often the two sides have met in 2026 and how rarely New Zealand have come out on top.
The 2005 mark against Australia had stood for more than two decades. That it has now been passed says as much about the volume of cricket between India and New Zealand this year as it does about the results.
Wellington in brief
New Zealand made 134 all out in Wellington, with Daryl Mitchell top-scoring on 55. India were 113 for 7 in 26 overs when rain ended play, four runs ahead of the DLS par score of 109, and were declared winners by four runs.
Gurnoor Brar took four wickets for 30 runs for India, and Shreyas Iyer made 30 while KL Rahul was unbeaten on 26 in the chase.
What New Zealand need now
The hosts need a win in Hamilton to stay in the series, and they need it quickly. A third straight defeat would hand India the series with two matches still to play.
For India, the record is a measure of a dominant year against one opponent. For New Zealand, it is a number they will want to stop growing as soon as possible.
