Team India registered a thrilling 12 runs win over New Zealand in the first One-day international match played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on 18 January 2023.
Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first. India made a massive total of 349 for 7 on a placid batting pitch. Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santer displayed great fighting spirit to add 162 runs for the 7th wicket. Bracewell played a sensational inning but could not take New Zealand across the line.
Shardul Thakur nailed a perfect yorker to dismiss Bracewell giving India a thrilling 12-run win and helping Team India take a 1-0 lead.
Here we look at the 3 takeaways for Team India in the first ODI against New Zealand:
- Shubman Gill double century
Shubman Gill has been in sensational form of late. Gill showed intent right from the word go putting pressure on New Zealand bowling. India lost the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ishan Kishan quickly after 60 runs opening partnership between Gill and Rohit.
Gill was given a reprieve as Latham missed stumping chance. He completed his half-century 52 balls and kept the momentum going for Team India. The opener put the bowlers under pressure with his aggressive hitting. He then completed his century off 87 balls keeping momentum. With wickets falling from the other end, Gill took the responsibility of taking singles and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
He then reached 150 off 122 balls maintaining the pressure on Kiwi bowling. Gill then took the charge with 3 successive sixes from Lockie Ferguson in the 49th over to complete double century off 145 balls. It was a remarkable knock by Gill as he was eventually dismissed with a stunning catch by Glenn Phillips for 208 off 149 balls with 19 fours and 9 sixes. His knock helped Team India post 349 for 7. He became the fifth Indian batter to hit a double century in the ODI format.
Indian team eventually won the match by 12 runs despite Bracewell’s brilliance. For his brilliant knock, Shubman Gill was named player of the match award.
Mohammed Siraj’s impressive bowling
Mohammed Siraj continued his impressive bowling in the first ODI match against New Zealand. The pace bowler then dismissed stand-in captain Tom Latham to leave New Zealand in trouble.
The 162 runs partnership between Bracewell and Santer was taking the game away from India, Siraj came into the attack getting rid of Santer, and then Shipley with a lovely yorker in one over to change the momentum in favor of India.
Playing his first ODI in front of the home crowd, Siraj showed great courage as other bowlers went for runs. He ended with figures of 4 for 46 in 10 overs.
Letting New Zealand off the hook
Defending 350, the Indian team began off to a great start dismissing all key New Zealand batters and reducing them to 131 for 6. Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur, and Washington Sundar went for runs as Bracewell and Santer took the attack to Indian bowlers.
Bracewell and Santer kept the pressure on Indian bowling putting on 162 runs partnership for the 7th wicket. The match went right down the wire as Shardul Thakur nailed a brilliant yorker to help Team India register 12 run win.
The Indian bowling has struggled off late to clean up the tail in ODI cricket. During the first ODI match against Sri Lanka in Guwahati, India reduced Sri Lanka to 206 for 8, Shanaka and Rajitha added unbeaten 100 runs for the 9th wicket.
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