Whenever the India and New Zealand teams meet in a One Day International match, it is always a classic battle between some of the best stroke-makers in the world and some extremely fast chases. But buried within this rivalry are many instances when the bowler has dominated the batsman. Whether it be high-velocity fast bowlers abroad or clever leg spinners on spinning surfaces back home, many players have changed the course of cricket history through their ability to bowl spell after spell.
Here is a look back at the top five individual bowling performances recorded in India vs. New Zealand ODI history
The All-Time Top 5 ODI Spells: India vs New Zealand
| Rank | Bowler | team | Figures | overs | Venue | date |
| 1 | Mohammed Shami | 🇮🇳 IND | 7/57 | 9.5 | Wankhede, Mumbai | Nov 15, 2023 |
| 2 | Shane Bond | 🇳🇿NZ | 6/19 | 9 | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | Aug 26, 2005 |
| 3 | Amit Mishra | 🇮🇳 IND | 5/18 | 6 | Visakhapatnam, India | Oct 29, 2016 |
| 4 | Trent Boult | 🇳🇿NZ | 5/21 | 10 | Hamilton, New Zealand | Jan 31, 2019 |
| 5 | Andre Adams | 🇳🇿NZ | 5/22 | 8.4 | Queenstown, New Zealand | Jan 4, 2003 |
1. Mohammed Shami (7/57) – The Wankhede Masterclass
India scored an aggressive 397 against New Zealand in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final. But New Zealand fought back brilliantly, with Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell scoring a stunning fightback to keep the Mumbai fans on their toes.
However, Shami came in and used his straight seam and his precision well to break the dangerous partnership. He dismissed Williamson and took the remaining Kiwis through his deadly accuracy. He ended up with 7/57 in 9.5 overs, securing a 70-run win for India and putting them into the final. He also holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in World Cup history.
“He stood tall under the lights of Wankhede when it came down to defending the score as he destroyed the spirits of New Zealand.”
2. Shane Bond (6/19) – Speedy Destruction In Bulawayo
Shane Bond tore through India during the 2005 Videocon Tri-Series in Zimbabwe with one of the deadliest spells of fast bowling against them. He used his raw pace, vicious bounce and toe-crushing yorkers to tear through the top order:
Wicket Takers: Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag.
Score: 146 all out.
6 Wickets For 19 Runs in 9 Overs.
3. Amit Mishra (5/18) – The Spin In The Vizag Decider
In October 2016, India set New Zealand a target of 270 after the five-match series was tied at 2-2 at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
However, Amit Mishra produced a brilliant spell of leg-spin.
Mishra made full use of the turning pitch to confuse the tourists. New Zealand had no answer to the dip and variations of Mishra. They lost their way and went from 63-2 to being all out for 79 in 23.1 overs. Mishra ended up with some incredible figures of 5/18 in 6 overs to win Player Of The Match, making India win the series 3-2.
4. Trent Boult (5/21) – The Swinging Left-Arm In Hamilton
Trent Boult produced some of the best left-arm swing seen at Seddon Park. On January 31st 2019, under overcast conditions, Boult got the white-ball talking from ball one.
Boult struck early, removing openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. India were struggling in perfect swing conditions. Boult consistently bowled the perfect length, leading to 4 maiden overs. This meant India could only score 92 runs. Boult finished with 5/21 in 10 overs to set up an easy 8-wicket win for the Black Caps.
5. Andre Adams (5/22) – Moving The Ball In Queenstown
Andre Adams produced a match-winning performance in January 2003 at the beautiful Queenstown Events Centre.
The pitch provided good seam movement and Adams tore through the stumps. He made full use of the seam so India couldn't get any partnerships going. Adams finished with 5/22 in 8.4 overs. This meant New Zealand only scored 122 meaning they could win comfortably with 7 wickets to spare.
Also read: India vs New Zealand T20I Series: 3 Players Who Could Lose Their Place After India's Team Revamp