India lost the three-match ODI series against New Zealand by 2-1

The Indian men’s national cricket team did not begin the year on a winning note, losing the three-match ODI series at home at the hands of visitors New Zealand by a margin of 2-1. In the last game, despite a century by Virat Kohli and a crucial cameo by Harshit Rana with the ball and the bat, India lost by 41 runs and gifted the series to the Kiwis.

This brings us to a question—when was the last time India lost a year-opener series across formats?

2025—to count or not to?

Last year, India started its new year with the fifth game of a five-match Test series. Before the fifth match, India had already lost the series with three defeats and one draw. The fifth game also went in Australia’s favour, and India started the year with a loss. However, should we count it as a year-opener series loss? Given that the series result was decided in December 2024, we will give India a pass.

(Credit- NDTV Sports)

The first complete series that India played in January 2025 was a five-match T20 series against England that India won by a scoreline of 4-1.

Whitewash in 2024

In 2024, India started the year with a one-off Test versus South Africa that the Men in Blue won by seven wickets. That year, India’s first series was a T20 series comprising three matches versus Afghanistan. It is no surprise that India won all three and started the year on a winning note.

Victory in 2023

Credit- ESPNcricinfo)

The Men in Blue in 2023 started that season with a three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka. India won the first game but lost the second. Fortunately, the boys turned the heat up in the third game, winning by 91 runs and securing the series at the beginning of the year.

A clean sweep

The last time India started the year with a series loss, it was in 2022 at the hands of South Africa. India started with a Test victory at the end of December 2021, but as the series moved into January, India suffered two consecutive losses. Things further went haywire in the T20 series as well when the Men in Blue lost three ODI matches in a row.

(Credit- Indian Express)

In 2022, India tasted its first victory in February after winning three ODI matches against the West Indies.

The Men in Blue, after getting defeated, must find ways to fight back, given every ODI match they play this year is a part of preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Not to forget, less than a month away, the T20 World Cup awaits, and India, as the defending champions, must put on a show.