Overview
- New Zealand chased 285 with 15 balls to spare, finishing 286/3 as Daryl Mitchell struck 131 not out and Will Young made 87, with Glenn Phillips adding an unbeaten 32.
- India posted 284/7 after KL Rahul's 112 not out rescued the innings from 118/4, with Kristian Clarke taking 3/56 including Virat Kohli bowled for 23.
- Michael Bracewell opted to field after winning the toss; India drafted Nitish Kumar Reddy for the injured Washington Sundar, with Ayush Badoni called up and Jayden Lennox debuting for New Zealand.
- Captain Shubman Gill said India failed to take wickets in the middle overs and lamented fielding lapses, factors that eased New Zealand's chase on a tacky, dew-affected surface.
- Virat Kohli returned to No. 1 in the ICC ODI batting rankings and became India's leading ODI run-scorer against New Zealand, as the series moves to a decider in Indore on January 18 in what was New Zealand's first 50-over win in India in over eight years.