India Leads Series 2‑0 After Rain‑Forced Cancellation of Third ODI

In Hamilton, the third One‑Day International between New Zealand and India was called off after relentless rain made the playing surface unusable. The match at Sedan Park never saw a ball bowled, extending India's 2‑0 advantage in the five‑game series.

The city had been experiencing nonstop downpours for more than a day, creating a gloomy outlook for the fixture. A brief interval allowed ground staff to attempt a pitch preparation, but the rain returned, forcing the covers back on.

After a two‑hour postponement, the toss finally occurred. India, winning for the third straight time, opted to bowl. Within minutes, the deluge resumed, saturating the field and leaving officials with no choice but to scrap the contest.

Earlier, New Zealand had claimed a DLS victory in Wellington when rain halted India's chase at 113/7, while India had previously won in Auckland under the DLS method.

For the remaining ODIs, India will rotate its squad, appointing Shreyas Iyer as captain as KL Rahul prepares for the red‑ball Test series. The fourth and fifth matches will be played at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Friday and Sunday respectively.