NEW DELHI: The Indian and New Zealand teams reached Indore on January 15 ahead of the third and final ODI of the series, scheduled to be played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on January 18.

The upcoming match will serve as the series decider after New Zealand kept the contest alive by denying India an unassailable lead with seven-wicket victory in the second ODI in Rajkot.

India have an excellent record at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, winning all seven ODIs they have played there. One of those wins came against New Zealand in 2023, when India secured a comfortable 90-run victory.

India started the series well with a close four-wicket win in Vadodara, but their momentum slipped in the second ODI. Led by Michael Bracewell, New Zealand handed the hosts a heavy seven-wicket defeat.

KL Rahul was the standout for India with an unbeaten 112, but his innings was not enough. Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 131 guided New Zealand to an easy win and helped them level the series 1-1.

Talking about the second ODI, New Zealand not only adapted but also executed better than India on a sluggish wicket at the Niranjan Shah Stadium to keep the hosts to 284/7 and overhauled the target in 47.3 overs to end at 286 for three.

New Zealand's triumph in a 50-overs match also took the spotlight back onto a problem which India have faced in Tests for about two years now, with the home team's spin attack being outmatched by that of the visitors, albeit that's been mostly in red-ball cricket.