New Delhi: India captain Shubman Gill was disappointed with his team’s performance in the series decider against New Zealand as the hosts suffered a 41-run defeat in the third ODI at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday, January 18. The Blackcaps won their first-ever series win in India. Chasing a 338-run target, the Men in Blue got off to a poor start as Gill and Rohit Sharma departed cheaply.
Virat Kohli batted brilliantly and stitched an 88-run partnership with Nitish Reddy. Kristian Clarke removed Reddy for 53 to stop India’s momentum. As the required run rate climbed quickly, Kohli forged another partnership with Harshit Rana as the pair shifted the gears to chase down the daunting target.
Kohli smashed his record-extending 54th ODI century and Rana also hit 52 runs off 43 balls, but a crucial over from Zak Foulkes broke India’s resistance. Foulkes removed Rana with a full toss, which was caught by Henry Nicholls at long-on, before an edge from Mohammed Siraj carried to wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay on the very next delivery.
Kohli then miscued a shot, and Mitchell took a good catch at long-off as the visitors sealed the ODI series by 2-1. Earlier, New Zealand were struggling at 58/3 after being put into bat first. However, Mitchell took the attack to the Indian bowlers and was well supported by Phillips as they forged a 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Mitchell, who made 84 runs in the first ODI and 131 in the second, smashed 15 boundaries and three maximums to post a career-high ODI score of 137 and record his fourth century in India.
‘A lot of areas need improvement’
India captain Shubman Gill said that the team is disappointed with the way they played in the series decider, and a lot of areas need improvement. He also lauded Kohli, Harshit and Nitish Reddy for their brilliant knocks.
“After the first match, coming here 1-1, the way we played was disappointing. A lot of areas need improvement. The way Virat is batting is always is a plus. The way Harshit has batted in this series, batting at No. 8 is not easy,” Gill said at the post-match presentation.
“Keeping the World Cup in mind, we want to give him (Nitish Kumar Reddy) opportunities and we want to give him enough overs and see what kind of combinations work for us and what kind of deliveries work for him,” he added.
India will next take on New Zealand in the five-match T20I series, which will begin on January 21 in Nagpur.