India lead the five-match ODI series against New Zealand 2-0 and can clinch it in the 4th ODI at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Friday, November 13, 2026. The venue has averaged 277.2 in first innings across 13 men's ODIs, and India's record there is two wins from three.
Series Snapshot Before the 4th ODI
India need one more win to take the rubber with a match to spare. The 3rd ODI in Hamilton was abandoned without a ball bowled because of rain, so the series scoreline did not change.
The washout also stopped New Zealand from extending their home bilateral-ODI winning streak, which stands at 11 matches. That streak will continue only if New Zealand win at Bay Oval and then in the 5th ODI.
Series Status Entering the 4th ODI| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Matches played (completed) | 2 |
| India wins | 2 |
| New Zealand wins | 0 |
| Abandoned (Hamilton, 3rd ODI) | 1 |
| NZ home bilateral-ODI winning streak | 11 |
India's ODI Record at Bay Oval
India have played three men's ODIs at Bay Oval, all against New Zealand. They have won two and lost one, a 66.7% win rate at the ground.
India at Bay Oval: Match-by-Match| Date | India Batted | Result | Margin |
|---|
| January 26, 2019 | First | India won | 90 runs |
| January 28, 2019 | Second | India won | 7 wickets |
| February 11, 2020 | First (296/7) | India lost | 5 wickets |
Defending Versus Chasing Here
India have won once batting first and once chasing at this venue. The one defeat came while defending 296/7, a total well above the venue's first-innings average of 277.2.
That result suggests a par score here may sit above 300 for a team batting first. It also shows that a score above the average does not guarantee a win.
Bay Oval Scoring Profile
Bay Oval has hosted 13 men's ODIs since it opened in 2015. The average first-innings score across those matches is 277.2.
Bay Oval Men's ODI Benchmarks| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Men's ODIs hosted (since 2015) | 13 |
| Average first-innings score | 277.2 |
| India's 2020 total at the venue | 296/7 |
| Gap versus venue average | +18.8 runs |
What the Average Implies
A first-innings average of 277.2 equates to roughly 5.5 runs per over over a full 50 overs. Sides batting first have generally needed to clear that mark to stay competitive.
Rain interruptions in this series complicate that benchmark. Both completed games so far were decided under DLS-adjusted targets.
How India Reached 2-0
Both wins came in rain-affected matches and were built on different strengths. The first was driven by the batting, the second by the bowling.
Completed Matches in the Series| Match | Venue | Summary | Result |
|---|
| 1st ODI | Auckland | NZ 185 all out (40.2 overs); India chased a DLS target of 143 in 22.4 overs | India won by 5 wickets |
| 2nd ODI | Wellington | India 113/7 (26 overs); NZ 134 all out chasing a revised DLS target | India won by 4 runs |
Batting Numbers From Auckland
Virat Kohli top-scored with 74 and Shubman Gill added 37. Their partnership was worth 113 runs. India needed about 6.3 runs per over to reach 143 in 22.4 overs, and the pair supplied most of that.
Bowling Numbers From Wellington
Gurnoor Brar took 4 wickets for 30 runs, the best figures of the series so far. Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Anshul Kamboj took 2 wickets each. Together the four bowlers accounted for all 10 New Zealand wickets.
India scored only 113/7 in 26 overs, a run rate of about 4.35. They still defended it by 4 runs, which points to disciplined bowling in a low-scoring game.
Analytical Outlook
Three trends stand out going into the 4th ODI. India are unbeaten in the series, they have won two of three at this ground, and the venue has produced above-average first-innings totals.
New Zealand are under pressure on two fronts. They have not won in the series, and their 11-match home streak now depends on winning both remaining games.
Weather will again affect the outcome. Two of three scheduled matches have been shaped by rain, so toss and DLS planning may matter as much as raw batting and bowling numbers.