In what turned out to be a runfest at Holkar Cricket Stadium, a 212-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill and an all-around performance from Shardul Thakur gave India ODI’s lead against New Sealand. Recorded 3 consecutive wins. With a 3-0 record, he also tops the men’s ODI rankings. Visitors have managed 295 in pursuit of the gargantuan goal of 386.
New Zealand needed a quick start but they couldn’t get it when Finn Allen slammed Hardik Pandya’s short ball into the stumps. Pay the price for hanging in the folds. However, Devon Conway (138 in 100 balls) and Henry Nichols matched in his second wicket stand of 106 runs, and the two delivered scoops, pulls and slogs on his sweeps, using their feet to beat the Indians to his It put pressure on the bowler. Just in time, Kuldeep pinned Yadav Nichols in front with a skidder. Despite losing his partner hitting, Conway continued to freeball, throwing his sweeps, reverse his sweeps, sometimes hacking the lane, Yuzvendra he countered Chahal and Kuldeep his Yadav. I set it up. In 25 overs he was 184 for 2 and New Zealand were very cornered. Thakur, however, cast a game-changing spell, putting India in his position on the pole.
Thakur used his short ball cross-seam to beat both Daryl He Mitchell and Dangerous Glen He Phillips. He also sacked Tom Latham with an ankle ball attempt. In the 32nd round, New Zealand lost Centurion Conway and were given a hammer blow when he chipped Umran Malik to Rohit at mid-wicket. Michael Bracewell (26) and Mitchell Santner made useful contributions, but the duo were unable to repeat exploits from his first ODI as the visitors were eventually eliminated in his 42nd over.
Gill and Rohit used to put on great shows in small areas and good shot conditions. Only in the fifth over of the innings, Gil and Rohit cracked sixes of hooks and lofts respectively, giving India a quick start. In the eighth over, Gill continued to cut, drive and direct Rocky Ferguson as 22 runs were added. Rohit matched Gill his shot shot by shot with Jacob Duffy draws and lofts.
India reached 100 in the 13th round. Ultimately, Rohit hit 100 in the 26th round. In the same passage, Gil also reaches the landmark. At the time, India looked like they could even reach 450, but New Zealand managed to slow the hosts’ goals tally by making regular cuts. Rohit appeared to break the line and was put into the castle by Michael Bracewell while Blair Tickner fired Gill.
Virat Kohli made a cameo (27 ball 36) before falling for Daffy. By this time the course had also slowed down a bit as New Zealand’s surface bowling led at different speeds to the wickets of Suryakumar Yadav and Washington Sundar. Shardul and Hardik Pandya then made a timely alliance from 54 in just over five overs, leaving New Zealand to have to pursue a difficult goal.
Brief scores: India 385/9 in 50 overs (Shubman Gill 112, Rohit Sharma 101; Blair Tickner 3 for 76) beat New Zealand 295 (Devon Conway 138; Shardul Thakur 3-45) by 90 runs