Team India’s new ODI captain Shreyas Iyer had a disappointing start to his leadership journey as the team suffered a heavy 244-run defeat against New Zealand in the fourth ODI of the five-match series on Friday, November 13, 2026, at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Making his first appearance as India’s ODI captain, Shreyas Iyer won the toss and decided to bowl first. However, the decision did not work in India’s favour as New Zealand put up an impressive total of 333 runs, powered by opener Will Young’s brilliant 125-run innings.
Chasing a challenging target of 334 runs, the Indian batting line-up completely collapsed. The visitors were bowled out for just 89 runs in 26.4 overs, handing New Zealand a convincing 244-run victory. The defeat also placed Shreyas Iyer in an unwanted group of Indian captains who have lost their first matches as leaders across different formats.
Shreyas Iyer Joins Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill on an Unwanted List
Interestingly, Shreyas Iyer has become the third Indian cricketer to lose both his first ODI and first T20I matches as captain of the national team. Before making his ODI captaincy debut on November 13, 2026, Shreyas Iyer had already experienced a defeat in his first official T20I as India’s captain. India lost that match against Ireland by 34 runs in Belfast on June 26, 2026.
Before Shreyas Iyer, former Indian captains Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill also suffered defeats in their first ODI and T20I matches as captains. Both players also lost their first Test matches as India’s captain. Kohli’s first Test as captain ended in a 48-run defeat against Australia at Adelaide Oval in December 2014. Similarly, Shubman Gill’s first Test as captain saw India lose to England at Headingley, Leeds, on June 24, 2025.
Virat Kohli made his ODI captaincy debut against Sri Lanka in Kingston on July 2, 2013. However, the match did not go as planned, as India suffered a 161-run defeat. Kohli also had a disappointing outing with the bat, scoring just two runs off five deliveries. His first T20I as India’s captain was equally unsuccessful. England defeated India by seven wickets at Green Park in Kanpur on January 26, 2017.
Virat Kohli’s first Test as captain also ended in disappointment, with Australia registering a 48-run victory over India at Adelaide Oval in a match played from December 9 to 13, 2014. Despite these early setbacks, Virat Kohli went on to become one of India’s most successful batters and a prominent leader in international cricket. He is also the second highest run-scorer in both ODI cricket and international cricket overall.
Shubman Gill Also Had a Difficult Start to His Captaincy Career
Shubman Gill’s first matches as India’s captain across formats also began with defeats. He made his T20I captaincy debut against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 6, 2024. India lost the match by 13 runs. His first Test as captain came against England at Headingley in Leeds on June 24, 2025. India set England a target of 372 runs but the hosts successfully chased it down, losing just five wickets in the process. Shubman Gill’s first ODI as captain was also unsuccessful. India suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Australia at Optus Stadium in Perth on October 19, 2025.
Shreyas Iyer Becomes First Indian Captain to Score a Duck on ODI Debut
Apart from the team’s heavy defeat, Shreyas Iyer also created an unwanted individual record during the match against New Zealand. Batting at No. 4, Shreyas Iyer failed to score a single run in his first ODI as India’s captain. He was dismissed by Matt Henry on the sixth delivery of the first over of India’s run chase after being trapped in front of the wickets.
With this dismissal, Shreyas Iyer became the first Indian cricketer to register a duck in his first ODI as the national team’s captain. Before him, the lowest individual score by an Indian captain in their first ODI as skipper was two runs. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma jointly held that record.
Meanwhile, several former Indian captains, including Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Mohinder Amarnath, Anil Kumble and MS Dhoni, did not get an opportunity to bat in their first ODI matches as India’s captain.
Shreyas Iyer will now be hoping to put this disappointing beginning behind him and bounce back in the remaining matches of the series.
All the best to Shreyas Iyer and team India for the last ODI of the series!
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