Mount Maunganui, November 14, 2026: Indian cricket witnessed a shocking batting collapse on Friday as the team registered an unwanted record in One Day International (ODI) history, losing three wickets without scoring a single run in the opening over of their fourth ODI against New Zealand at Bay Oval.
New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry produced a sensational opening over, dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer to leave India reeling at 0/3 while chasing a challenging target of 334 runs.
The extraordinary collapse made India only the second team in ODI history to finish the opening over with three wickets down and no runs on the scoreboard, matching an unwanted record previously associated with Pakistan.
Matt Henry Destroys India’s Top Order
The nightmare began with the very first delivery of India’s innings when Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck. Henry generated movement and bounce, forcing Rohit into an outside edge that was comfortably caught by Finn Allen at first slip.
Virat Kohli arrived at the crease but failed to make an impact. The New Zealand pacer delivered a sharp ball that moved back into the batter, beating his defence and crashing into the stumps.
Stand-in skipper Shreyas Iyer became Henry’s third victim of the over. The Indian batter was struck on the pads by an incoming delivery and was initially given not out. However, New Zealand successfully reviewed the decision, with ball-tracking confirming that the delivery would have hit the stumps.
India were suddenly reduced to 0/3, leaving the dressing room stunned.
A Rare Record in ODI Cricket
Henry’s remarkable performance placed him among a very small group of bowlers who have taken at least three wickets in the opening over of an ODI innings.
Before the New Zealand pacer, only two bowlers had achieved the feat:
- Shaun Pollock (South Africa): Dismissed Saeed Anwar, Aamer Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed in the opening over against Pakistan in Lahore in 1997.
- Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka): Took four wickets in the opening over against Bangladesh during the 2003 Cricket World Cup in Pietermaritzburg.
Henry became the third bowler to achieve this remarkable bowling milestone.
The distinction is particularly significant because India and Pakistan are the only teams in this group of instances to finish the opening over without scoring a run.
India Suffers a Massive Batting Collapse
The early setbacks proved disastrous for India, who were chasing New Zealand’s imposing total of 334.
Ruturaj Gaikwad also fell cheaply, leaving India struggling at 9/4 within 5.3 overs. The collapse brought back memories of India’s heartbreaking 1983 World Cup encounter against Zimbabwe, when the team was reduced to 9/4 before Kapil Dev produced his legendary unbeaten 175-run innings.
However, India failed to produce a similar recovery against New Zealand.
The visitors were eventually bowled out for just 89 runs, suffering a crushing 244-run defeat. Matt Henry finished with six wickets, playing a decisive role in New Zealand’s emphatic victory.
India’s Second-Biggest Defeat in ODI History
The defeat was another unwanted milestone for Indian cricket.
India’s 244-run loss became the second-biggest defeat by runs in the country’s ODI history. The biggest remains the 245-run defeat against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in 2000.
New Zealand’s victory was powered by a brilliant batting performance, with Will Young scoring a century to help the hosts post 333 runs before being bowled out.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Rare Double Failure
Another notable statistic from the match was the dismissal of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for ducks in the same ODI.
The last time both senior Indian batters had been dismissed without scoring in the same ODI was against Sri Lanka in Dambulla in 2010.
Their early departures, along with Iyer’s dismissal, turned the fourth ODI into one of India’s most disastrous batting performances in recent years.
India Still Leads the ODI Series
Despite the heavy defeat, India remained ahead in the five-match ODI series, having won the first two matches. The third ODI had been abandoned due to rain.
New Zealand’s victory in the fourth match reduced India’s advantage, leaving the final ODI crucial for the hosts as they look to level the series.
For India, the latest defeat will raise serious questions about batting consistency, preparation and the team’s ability to handle quality fast bowling in overseas conditions.
Matt Henry’s extraordinary opening over will undoubtedly remain one of the most memorable bowling performances of the series, while India’s unwanted 0/3 record will be a moment the team will be eager to forget.
