Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has recently stated that the Indian team can be optimistic despite their 0-1 defeat in the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Shastri also feels that the conditions in New Zealand were challenging and the team did well too in difficult situations.
However, after a series win in the T20Is, India lost the first ODI against the Kiwis in 50-over cricket before the second and third ODIs were washed out midway due to rain as well. And, while speaking on Prime Video after the third ODI, he opined on Shreyas Iyer’s significant contributions and also backed Suryakumar Yadav to do well in future as well. He even felt that Washington Sundar and Umran Malik also contributed well in the series.
“I think a lot of positives came from this one-day series,” he said. “Shreyas Iyer getting runs in a couple of matches, willing to stay there and willing to go through the tough period. Suryakumar of course has the potential, has the talent, and he will deliver.
“Washington Sundar, I thought was very good” – Ravi Shastri
“Washington Sundar, I thought was very good. And even Umran Malik, I like the way he bowled. There’s potential there. If he can persevere, it will be very good. All around, there was very positive Shubman Gill at the start of the innings. These conditions are tough, you don’t get these conditions often, and you don’t travel to New Zealand that often. So I think for young cricketers to come here and get this kind of exposure is excellent. The weather and the ground dimensions need to be taken into account,” Ravi Shastri further added.
With 129 runs in two innings at 64.50, Shreyas Iyer finished as Team India’s leading run-getter in the ODI series. However, other Indian batters struggled in the final ODI as they could only manage 219 before getting all out as well. New Zealand were on the verge of winning the game, scoring at 104-1 before rain intervened as well.
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