Boult from the blue! India cricket team humbled

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The high-flying Indian cricket team got a timely wakeup call against New Zealand in the fourth one-day international as they are gunning for the crowning glory in this year's ICC World Cup.

The rude shock for the seemingly invincible side from the subcontinent came in the form of a crushing 8-wicket defeat at the hands of the hosts after the Indians were bundled out for a humiliating score of just 92 runs at Hamilton, New Zealand on Thursday.

Even though the match was rather an inconsequential one after the Indians pocketed the five-match series with an unassailable 3-0 lead, the hosts bounced back to restore some pride after electing to field first. Speedster Trent Boult came out firing on all cylinders against the Indian side without their rested captain Virat Kohli and in-form former captain and wicket-keeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The fiery pace of Boult at Seddon Park saw the famed Indian batting collapsing like a pack of cards in no time. The Kiwi pace spearhead was well-supported by Zimbabwe-born medium pacer Colin de Grandhomme as Indian wickets fell like ninepins.

New Zealand's Henry Nicholls (L) and Ross Taylor gesture during the fourth one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and India at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand, January 31, 2019. /VCG Photo

A boisterous Boult bagged 5 wickets for just 21 runs with 4 maiden overs while Grandhomme returned with impressive figures of 3 for 26 to polish off the Rohit Sharma-led Indian batting in just 31 overs. Ironically, India's no. 10 batsman Yuzvendra Chahal was the top-scorer for his side with a gritty 18-run knock.

Chasing the paltry target, the Black Caps warded off a fiery Bhuvneshwar Kumar after he bagged the early wickets of opener Martin Guptill and skipper Kane Williamson. Henry Nicholls and Ross Taylor got better of the Indian bowlers to guide their side to an easy and comfortable victory in just 15 overs.