India suffered a big defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their first of the two international friendlies scheduled in November as they went down 5-0 in Auckland on Thursday.

New Zealand, who participated in the 2026 World Cup in North America, were too hot to handle for the Indian team as they steamrolled the visitors.

The hosts fielded a strong side, with veteran forward and Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood featuring in the starting lineup. The All Whites controlled proceedings right from the off and their relentless attack led to an own goal from Bijoy Varghese in the fifth minute of the match as the home side took an early lead.

In the next few minutes, India did have a couple of chances to equalise but they squandered them, and New Zealand eventually doubled their lead in the 34th minute, with Jesse Randall finding his name on the scoresheet. 

At the stroke of halftime, Randall doubled his tally and increased his team's lead to 3-0 with a curing right-footed shot from inside the box.

Khalid Jamil made quite a few changes after the break as India aimed to bounce back after a terrible first-half outing. However, the hosts further piled on the Indians' misery as Wood got his name on the scoresheet in the 57th minute.

Lachlan Bayliss then hammered the final nail in India's coffin in the 74th minute as the gap further widened between the two teams at Auckland. 

India vs New Zealand football score and highlights

India 0-5 New Zealand (Varghese (o.g. 5'), Randall (34' and 43'), Wood (57'), Bayliss (74'))

Full-time in Auckland. #NZLIND #BlueTigers #IndianFootball https://t.co/32ztdLxAQS

— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) November 12, 2026

Second-half action from Auckland. 📸 🔗 Watch the match live: https://t.co/O9LPdOekJP #NZLIND #BlueTigers #IndianFootball https://t.co/V2PvimHgK7

— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) November 12, 2026

The #BlueTigers trail at the break. 🔗 Watch the match live: https://t.co/O9LPdOekJP #NZLIND #IndianFootball https://t.co/Nh3pLD0pPP

— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) November 12, 2026

Into the arena 🇮🇳💙 🔗 Watch the match live: https://t.co/O9LPdOekJP #NZLIND #BlueTigers #IndianFootball https://t.co/O2GJs2Ed2v

— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) November 12, 2026

India vs New Zealand football: Lineups

India XI: Vishal Kaith (gk); Abhishek Tekcham, Pramveer, Bijoy Varghese, Akash Mishra; Anirudh Thapa, Lalremtluanga Fanai; Jithin MS, Ryan Williams, Liston Colaco; Manvir Singh

New Zealand XI: Alex Paulsen; Callan Elliot, Francis de Vries, Nando Pijnaker, Bill Tuiloma; Logan Rogerson, Lachlan Bayliss, Matt Garbett, Alex Rufer, Jesse Randall; Chris Wood