India’s white-ball tour comprising three T20Is and as many ODIs ended on Wednesday, November 30. India won the T20I series by 1-0, while the hosts won the ODI series by the same margin.
Out of the six matches, four ended in no result due to rain. There were some decent positives for Team India during this series against the hosts New Zealand.
The Indian team debuted two players in One-day international cricket while Hardik Pandya led Men in Blue to win the series in his debut stint as captain.
Here we look at the 3 positives for Team India in the white-ball series against New Zealand
#1 Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive batting
Surya Kumar Yadav continued his impressive form after the T20 World Cup. He showed his hitting abilities in the 2nd T20I match played at Bay Oval, Mount Maunagi on 20th November 2022. After being invited into bat by Williamson, Surya Kumar Yadav looked in decent touch completing fifty off 32 balls.
After completing his half-century, Suryakumar decimated the New Zealand bowling attack reaching the 2nd T20I century off 49 balls. He remained not out on 111 off 51 balls helping India post 191 for 6. India won the match easily by 65 runs. For his match-winning knock, Surya Kumar Yadav was named the player of the match award.
He looked impressive in the third T20I match at McLean Park, Napier before being dismissed cheaply. Suryakumar Yadav was named the player of the series award.
Surya fell for 4 runs in the first ODI match at Eden Park, Auckland. He was promoted to number 3 in a rain-curtailed match at Seddon Park, Hamilton. Surya showed intent keeping the pressure on New Zealand bowling remaining not out on 34 off 25 balls at a strike rate of 136.00. He and Shubman Gill added 66 runs for the second wicket.
#2 Umran Malik making an impressive ODI debut
Always a proud moment to represent your country 🇮🇳
And ODI debut is one such moment. #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/rD1zBySToA— Umran Malik (@umran_malik_01) November 25, 2022
Umran Malik had the honour of making his ODI debut in the first match at Eden Park, Auckland. He produced great speeds around 150 troubling Devon Conway and Kane Williamson. Malik got his maiden ODI wicket by getting rid of Conway with a simple catch to Pant.
He then dismissed Daryl Mitchell to pick his second ODI wicket to put New Zealand under pressure. After the initial spell, Malik was taken for runs by a well-set batter of Williamson and Tom Latham. It was a decent bowling effort as he ended with figures of 2 for 66 in 10 overs.
Malik got the only breakthrough for India in the third ODI at Hagley Oval, Christchurch played on 30 Nov 2022. He dismissed Finn Allen providing a simple catch to Surya Kumar Yadav.
The Jammu and Kashmir-born pacer did not get a chance in the T20I series and will look for more chances.
#3 Washington Sundar’s impressive batting performance
Washington Sundar showed his class in the 2 ODI matches he batted. Sundar came at the crease with the scoreboard reading 254 for 5 as Sanju Samson fell. The left-handed Tamil Nadu batter displayed great hitting abilities keeping the momentum for Team India with big shots. He remained not out on 37 off 16 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes with a strike rate of 231.25 helping Men in Blue go cross 300.
Sundar made his maiden ODI half-century in the 3rd One-day international match played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on 30 November. He came with India struggling at 121 for 5 as New Zealand pacers impressed with decent lines and lengths.
Sundar showed his class by taking the strike and hitting boundaries off good deliveries. The Indian team kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but Sundar showed patience. He completed his half-century with a six before he was dismissed for a well-made 51 off 64 balls. His knock helped India post a respectable total of 219.
It was a decent batting effort by Washington Sundar in both India matches. New Zealand raced away to 104 for 1 in 18 overs before the match was abandoned due to rain.
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