India suffered a 0-5 defeat to New Zealand in the first match of a two-match friendly football series in Auckland on Thursday.
New Zealand dominated the visiting side in every department and could have scored more had they been clinical in front of goal.
Jesse Randall (34, 43) scored a brace while Lachlan Bayliss (75) and Chris Wood (57) added to the tally. The scoring spree began with an own goal, with Bijoy Varghese being the unlucky defender to turn in an attempt from Wood in the 5th minute.
Khalid Jamil's India will play New Zealand again, in Christchurch on November 15. The All Whites will hope to give head coach Darren Bazeley a fitting farewell on Sunday.
New Zealand had 62% possession and kept the Indian defence pinned to their own half for almost three-quarters of the match. The hosts took 23 shots against four and kept 11 of those on target, while India managed just two.
India languish in the 138th position in FIFA rankings while New Zealand are placed 85th. New Zealand played in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, exiting in the group stage after a point from a 2-2 draw with Iran.
With the latest defeat, India have conceded 15 goals in three matches. In October, India lost 0-4 to Brazil and 1-6 to Uruguay, in the friendlies played at Kolkata.
Coincidentally, the Indian men's cricket team is on a tour of New Zealand and is doing quite well. India won the T20I series 3-2 and have taken a 2-0 lead in a five-match ODI series, the fourth match of which is set to be played at Mount Maunganui on Friday.