India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI Washed Out: Rain Abandons Hamilton Match, India Lead Series 2-0

The India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI was washed out by rain at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, and abandoned without a ball being bowled. India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl, but persistent rain never allowed play to start. India still lead the five-match series 2-0, so they cannot lose the series, but their wait for an ODI series win in New Zealand, stretching back to 2019, goes on until the final two matches in Mount Maunganui.

India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI: How the Rain Ruined the Day in Hamilton

Rain had been falling in Hamilton since the afternoon before the match, and it rarely let up. The players were greeted by showers on arrival at Seddon Park, and most of the Indian squad stayed in the team bus while the groundstaff waited for a break. The toss, scheduled for 2:30 pm local time (7:00 am IST), was delayed by more than two hours. The covers came off at around 4 pm, the match was reduced to 40 overs per side, and the toss was set for 4:32 pm.

Gill won the toss for the third successive time in the series, and the seventh time in eight tosses on this tour, and asked New Zealand to bat first. But rain returned before the toss interviews were even finished, and never stopped long enough for the covers to come off again. With about 70 minutes left before the 7:50 pm local cut-off for a 20-over match, the umpires called the game off at around 6:45 pm local time. The forecast had given little hope all day, with a 90 per cent chance of rain predicted for Hamilton.

• Match: India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton, Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
• Result: Match abandoned without a ball being bowled.
• Toss: Gill won it for the third successive time in the series and chose to bowl.
• Overs: Reduced to 40 per side before the rain returned for good.
• Call-off: Abandoned at around 6:45 pm local time, before the 7:50 pm cut-off for a 20-over match.
• Forecast: A 90 per cent chance of rain was predicted for Hamilton all day.

What the Washout Means for the India vs New Zealand Series

The washout leaves India 2-0 ahead, so the visitors can no longer lose the series: both opening ODIs were decided by the DLS method, and the worst outcome for India now is a 2-2 draw. New Zealand can now only hope to level the series in the two remaining matches in Mount Maunganui. The washout also ended a proud New Zealand record: their streak of 11 consecutive bilateral ODI series wins at home, the second-longest such streak in men's ODI cricket.

Shreyas Iyer to Captain India in the Final Two ODIs

The Hamilton washout was also Gill's last ODI of the tour. Gill, who is also India's Test captain, will now switch to red-ball nets to prepare for the two-Test series that follows the ODIs, and Shreyas Iyer will captain India in the remaining two ODIs. The change was planned before the washout, so Iyer leads a side one win from a series victory, knowing a draw is now the only way New Zealand can avoid defeat.

When Is the Next India vs New Zealand ODI?

The series moves to the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui: the fourth ODI is on Friday, November 13, 2026, and the fifth and final ODI on Sunday, November 15, 2026. The weather outlook there is much better than in Hamilton, so both matches should be completed ODIs. After the ODIs, the two teams play a two-Test series. If the rain stays away, India get two chances to do what they could not do in Hamilton: win the ODI series in New Zealand.

1. India win the fourth ODI on Friday, November 13, and the series is sealed 3-0 with one game to spare.
2. If the fourth ODI is washed out or New Zealand win it, India get a second chance on Sunday, November 15.
3. If New Zealand win both remaining matches, the series ends 2-2 despite India leading 2-0.
4. Whatever happens, the tour continues with a two-Test series, for which Gill is already preparing.

India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI: Frequently Asked Questions

The India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI will go down as a match that never was, but it has not changed the shape of the series: India remain 2-0 up, New Zealand's home winning streak is over, and everything rests on the two ODIs in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15. If the weather cooperates, India will have two chances to end their seven-year wait for an ODI series win in New Zealand.