Arshdeep Singh stars as India beat New Zealand to clinch ODI series

Paceman Arshdeep Singh led India's bowling attack in the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand, taking 3-30 from 10 overs as his side secured a 22-run victory and a 3-1 series win. New Zealand's chase of 210 saw them lose key wickets at crucial moments, finishing at 187 in the final over, marking their first home ODI series defeat in seven years.

Indian seamers, spearheaded by Arshdeep, excelled in the helpful conditions at Mount Maunganui, with Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan each scoring 46 to help New Zealand recover from 34-3. Despite struggling throughout the low-scoring series, India's bowlers exploited the pitch, with the pace attack in particular taking advantage. New Zealand captain Jacob Duffy and Mitchell Santner each claimed three wickets as the tourists were dismissed for 209 off 42.1 overs.

India's captain Shreyas Iyer commended his team's adaptability in challenging conditions, noting that the bowlers' performance was the standout feature of the match. New Zealand skipper Santner, who required an X-ray on his right hand after being struck while batting, expressed confidence in his team's ability to chase down the target but acknowledged the challenging pitch.