Rain had the final say at Seddon Park. The third ODI between New Zealand and India in Hamilton on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, was abandoned without a ball being bowled, after persistent rain and a wet outfield made play impossible. The toss was the only cricket of the day: India captain Shubman Gill won it for the third time in a row and chose to bowl, but the showers returned before the players could take the field. India keep their 2-0 lead – and with two matches left, they can no longer lose the series.
Match Summary
| Match | New Zealand vs India, 3rd ODI |
| Series | India tour of New Zealand 2026 – five-match ODI series |
| Date | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Venue | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| Result | Match abandoned without a ball bowled (no result) |
| Toss | India won the toss and opted to bowl |
| Match length | Reduced to 40 overs per side after the rain delay |
| Series score | India lead 2-0, with two matches to play |
| Next match | 4th ODI, Friday 13 November 2026, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui |
How the Day Unfolded
Hamilton had been bracing for this all week. Rain had been falling since Monday, 9 November, and a heavy rain watch was in place from 3 AM on Tuesday until 1 AM on Wednesday. By the morning, 14 mm of rain had already fallen, with up to 29 mm expected, and the forecast put the chance of showers at 90 to 100 per cent. The scheduled 2:30 PM local-time toss was pushed back by more than two hours, and the match was trimmed to 40 overs a side in the hope of salvaging some cricket.
The covers finally came off at around 4 PM local time, and the toss went ahead at about 4:32 PM, with Gill calling correctly once more — his seventh toss win in eight attempts on this tour — and asking New Zealand to bat first. India were unchanged from Wellington, while New Zealand brought in Matthew Fisher for the concussed Blair Tickner. But the drizzle returned before the players could take the field, and with fans leaving Seddon Park and no improvement in sight, the umpires called the match off at around 6:41 PM local time. Not a single delivery was bowled.
What It Means for the Series
The washout suits India far more than it suits New Zealand. With the series at 2-0 and only two matches remaining, India cannot lose: even if New Zealand win both games in Mount Maunganui, the best the hosts can manage is a 2-2 draw. For New Zealand, the washout also ended a proud record — their streak of eleven consecutive bilateral ODI series wins at home, the second-longest such run in men’s ODI history. And for India, the wait for a first ODI series win on New Zealand soil since 2019 goes on.
The series now moves to the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, where the fourth ODI is scheduled for Friday, 13 November, and the fifth for Sunday, 15 November. There will be a new captain in charge of India: Shubman Gill and KL Rahul have played their last ODI of the series and will join India’s Test squad in Wellington, with Shreyas Iyer taking over as captain for the final two matches and Ishan Kishan named his deputy. India’s grip on the series was built in the first two ODIs — a five-wicket DLS win in Auckland, led by Virat Kohli’s 74 off 51 balls, and a four-run DLS win in Wellington, set up by Gurnoor Brar’s four for 30. Read our full recaps of the first ODI and the second ODI, and our preview of the third ODI.
Confirmed Playing XIs
Both teams named their playing XIs at the toss before the rain returned:
- New Zealand: Will Young, Tim Seifert, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher.
- India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (w), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.
FAQs
Why was the New Zealand vs India 3rd ODI abandoned?
Persistent rain and a wet outfield at Seddon Park made play impossible. The toss took place and the match was reduced to 40 overs a side, but showers returned before the players could take the field, and the umpires called the game off at around 6:41 PM local time without a ball being bowled.
Who won the toss in the 3rd ODI?
India captain Shubman Gill won the toss for the third time in a row in the series and opted to bowl first, backing his in-form pace attack. It was his seventh toss win in eight attempts on this tour.
What is the series score after the washout?
India lead the five-match series 2-0 with two matches to play, and they can no longer lose it — New Zealand can at best draw 2-2. The washout also ended New Zealand’s streak of eleven consecutive bilateral ODI series wins at home.
When is the 4th ODI, and who will captain India?
The fourth ODI is scheduled for Friday, 13 November 2026, at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, with the fifth ODI on Sunday, 15 November at the same venue. Shreyas Iyer will captain India for the final two matches, with Ishan Kishan as vice-captain, after Shubman Gill and KL Rahul left to join the Test squad.
Was any cricket played at all in Hamilton?
No. Only the toss took place, and both teams named their playing XIs before the rain returned. New Zealand’s record of twelve straight completed-ODI wins at Seddon Park stays intact, because a washout is a no-result, not a defeat.
Conclusion
It was a day for the covers, not the cricket. India will take the washout happily enough — the series cannot be lost — but New Zealand will feel the chance of a fightback slipping away. Hamilton’s rain denied the hosts the must-win game they needed, and India now need just one win from two games to seal a first ODI series victory in New Zealand since 2019. The fourth ODI at the Bay Oval on Friday, 13 November, is where the series will be decided.
For the full scorecard and match report, follow the match on Cricbuzz.
Green Benn is a dedicated sports writer specializing in cricket, including IPL and international formats. Known for clear, engaging, and informative content, Green simplifies complex match analysis and player statistics for all readers. Passionate about sports storytelling, Green delivers reliable, SEO-friendly articles that keep fans updated and informed
