New Zealand beat India 5-0 in Auckland on Thursday as Jesse Randall scored twice, Chris Wood headed in and Lachlan Bayliss volleyed home after an early Bijoy Varghese own goal. Vishal Kaith saved a late penalty as India’s New Zealand tour opened with a heavy defeat.
Auckland, New Zealand: India’s trip to the other side of the Pacific began with the sort of start no coach plans for. Five minutes into the first of two November-window friendlies at Go Media Stadium, the Blue Tigers were behind, and by half-time they were 3-0 down against a New Zealand side that played at this year’s World Cup.
A deflection opens the scoring
It took New Zealand five minutes. Randall carried the ball into the box and his cutback was cleared by Pramveer, only for the ball to strike Varghese and loop into his own net. It was a scrappy goal rather than a clean one, and India’s defending stayed under pressure for the rest of the half.
Randall’s brace before the break
Randall then took the match into his own hands. In the 34th minute he was released down the left and his shot took a deflection on its way past Kaith. Nine minutes later he made it 3-0 when an India clearance fell to him and he curled a right-footed shot into the corner. India went into the interval three goals down.
Wood and Bayliss finish it
Khalid Jamil made changes at half-time, with Muhammad Suhail among those introduced, but the goals kept coming. In the 57th minute Wood rose above the India defence to head in a cross from the right. In the 74th minute Bayliss, unmarked inside the box, hit a half-volley from Liam Gillion’s delivery for the fifth.
Kaith keeps it at five
India did have one moment to hold on to. Akash Mishra was penalised for handball and Bill Tuiloma stepped up for New Zealand, but Kaith saved the spot-kick and gathered the rebound. The goalkeeper, playing for India for the first time in more than a year, made several other saves to keep the scoreline from growing.
The defeat follows October’s 6-1 loss to Uruguay in Kolkata, and Jamil’s 23-man party, named earlier this month, now has a quick chance to respond. The two sides meet again at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday, 15 November, in the early morning in India.
Full time, international friendly, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, 12 November 2026: New Zealand 5, India 0. Goals: Bijoy Varghese (own goal) 5’, Jesse Randall 34’, 43’, Chris Wood 57’, Lachlan Bayliss 74’. Penalty saved: Vishal Kaith saved Bill Tuiloma’s spot-kick. Next: New Zealand v India, Christchurch, 15 November.
