The India Vs New Zealand third ODI has been abandoned due to heavy rain in Hamilton, which even ended without a ball being bowled at Seddon Park. Considering the toss, it was delayed by 2+ hours & the playing conditions offered little hope of a shortened contest. The umpires eventually abandoned the match as another spell of rain interrupted preparations, leaving India with an unchanged 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The two teams will now head to Mount Maunganui for the remaining fixtures, which is scheduled for November 13 & 15.

Rain Forces Abandonment After Delayed Toss

As you know, Shubman Gill won the toss for the third consecutive time in the series & hence opted to bowl first. The toss, initially scheduled for 2:30 pm local time (7:00 am IST), took place more than two hours later because of rain and the wet outfield. The match was subsequently reduced to 40 overs per side in an attempt to get some cricket underway. However, rain returned just as the ground staff began removing the covers and preparing the surface. There was still a possibility of a 20-over contest, but the weather failed to improve. The local cut-off time of 7:50 pm (12:20 pm IST) eventually forced the officials to abandon the match. The forecast had also indicated a 90 per cent chance of rain during the day.

India Remain Unbeaten in the Series

Also, even after the influence of rain, India had won both previous matches. The visitors secured a five-wicket victory in the opening ODI in Auckland after chasing a revised target under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. The second ODI in Wellington was a much closer contest, with India recording a four-run win, again under the DLS method. The result in Hamilton means India cannot lose the series from this position. New Zealand will need victories in both remaining matches to level the series 2-2. The abandoned fixture also brought an end to New Zealand's run of 11 consecutive bilateral ODI series victories at home. South Africa hold the record for the longest such streak, having won 17 successive home ODI series between 2002 and 2007.

Shreyas Iyer to Lead India in Final Two ODIs

The Hamilton fixture was the final ODI of the series for Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, both of whom will now join India's Test squad in Wellington. Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj and Mohammed Siraj are also set to link up with the Test team. Shreyas Iyer will captain India for the remaining two ODIs in Gill's absence. The fourth match will take place in Mount Maunganui on November 13, followed by the series finale on November 15. New Zealand now face a must-win situation in both matches if they are to avoid a series defeat at home.

Editor - Neha

Neha is the Co-Director & Editor at sportselite.in, drawn to the stories that give Sports their energy beyond the scoreboard. She brings clarity, context, and a human perspective to coverage across Elite Sports, from standout performances to shifting team dynamics and memorable contests. At sportselite.in, Neha helps turn complex sporting developments into engaging stories, keeping readers connected to the people and moments behind the action.

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