IND vs NZ : Arshdeep Singh sends Henry Nicholls packing with a peach in 3rd ODI

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The Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore is renowned for being a batter’s paradise, but on January 18, 2026, the narrative shifted toward the moving ball. In the series finale between India and New Zealand, the Men in Blue, led by Shubman Gill, opted to field first—a decision that paid immediate dividends. As the sun began to set over Indore, India’s left-arm sensation Arshdeep Singh produced a moment of pure fast-bowling artistry that set the tone for a high-intensity powerplay.

The highlights reel for this 3rd ODI will undoubtedly be headlined by the fourth delivery of the opening over. Arshdeep, steaming in with a brand-new white ball, looked lethal from his very first stride. After probing the channel for the first three balls, Arshdeep produced an absolute peach to dismiss the experienced Henry Nicholls for a golden duck.

Operating from closer to the off-stump, Arshdeep created a subtle angle that shaped the ball away just enough to sow seeds of doubt. Nicholls, caught in a classic case of indecision, attempted to withdraw his bat at the last possible microsecond. However, the late movement was too sharp; the ball kissed the inside edge and crashed violently into the leg stump. It was a nonchalant yet clinical dismissal that left Nicholls throwing his head back in frustration as he trudged back to the pavilion without scoring. The sight of the leg stump knocked back provided India with the perfect start, reducing the visitors to 5/1 within the first four balls of the match.

Fabulous start this from #TeamIndia 🔥

Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana have dismissed both the New Zealand openers 🙌

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/KR2ertVmpx#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2026

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The early strike by Arshdeep was just the beginning of a relentless opening burst by the Indian seamers. Following the departure of Nicholls, the pressure mounted on the Black Caps. Just seven balls later, Harshit Rana doubled the delight for the Indore crowd. The young pacer extracted extra bounce to remove the dangerous Devon Conway, who was caught by Rohit Sharma for 5. Within 1.1 overs, New Zealand found themselves reeling at 5/2, staring down the barrel of a potential collapse.

Despite the early carnage, New Zealand attempted to reconstruct their innings through Will Young and Daryl Mitchell. By the end of the mandatory 10-over powerplay, the visitors managed to reach 47/2, scoring at a run rate of 4.70.

While Young showed flashes of aggression with four boundaries to reach 24* off 32 balls, the discipline shown by India’s trio was exceptional. Mohammed Siraj, though wicketless in his initial spell, kept things incredibly tight with an economy of 3.00, ensuring no easy release of pressure. The strategy was clear: utilize the early moisture and swing to keep the Kiwi middle order quiet. With the likes of Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell waiting in the wings, India’s ability to maintain this squeeze will be the deciding factor in this series-concluding encounter.

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