India defeated New Zealand not very comfortably but did just enough to get over the line. Shardul Thakur’s pin-point Yorker took the contest away from the Kiwis’ grip but there are still concerns raised over India’s incompetency in the bowling department and if the extra 20-30 runs weren’t scored, the hosts would have been in trouble.
But they kept the positive results intact as India won their 4th ODI in a row this year. Before beating the Blackcaps’ last night, the Blues had whitewashed Sri-Lanka less than a week ago. Though it was a very high-scoring game but India at least would have hoped for a better bowling performance.
Rohit Sharma – "Ishan, you scored a 200 and didn't play 3 matches"
Ishan Kishan – "Rohit bhaiya, you're the captain"
😀😀😀😝#IshanKishan #RohitSharma𓃵 #INDvsNZ #subhmangill #BCCI pic.twitter.com/AcLbsIBG3s— purushottam sharma (@Psharma_iitk) January 19, 2023
Meanwhile, after the hard fought win, Captain Rohit Sharma, Wicket-Keeper Ishan Kishan and Man of the match Shubhman Gill gathered in the ground for a quick chit chat. The conversation got really funny when Rohit Sharma started pulling Ishan Kishan’s leg by asking him how you get dropped after smacking the fastest 200 in ODI cricket.
1⃣ Frame
3️⃣ ODI Double centurionsExpect a lot of fun, banter & insights when captain @ImRo45, @ishankishan51 & @ShubmanGill bond over the microphone 🎤 😀 – By @ameyatilak
Full interview 🎥 🔽 #TeamIndia | #INDvNZ https://t.co/rD2URvFIf9 pic.twitter.com/GHupnOMJax
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 19, 2023
Ishan Kishan was quick to respond and said that being a captain it is something that you are supposed to tell me. All the 3 players broke out in laughter. Kishan was snubbed from the entire ODI series against Sri-Lanka right after scoring that 200 at Bangladesh.
But the Indian management including captain Rohit Sharma were under boiling hot water for deciding to drop the Lefty. However, Ishan Kishan took it in a sporting manner and said that Everything is a learning and also suggested that he likes to bat at number 4.
Shubhman Gill was also thrown a few questions by the Skipper. Gill was the catalyst behind India’s total of 350 as he became the youngest player ever to score a Double-ton and also became the 5th batter after Sachin tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan to reach the 200-run landmark.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯!
Welcome @ShubmanGill 😃👏#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/EFZ6FXffu6
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2023
Rohit Sharma asked Gill to express himself after that illustrious 208 off 149 deliveries. “It felt pretty amazing…I couldn’t go big in the 1st and 3rd ODI of the Sri Lanka series but in this match, I was on 100 again and had an opportunity to do and it paid off”.
A SIX to bring up his Double Hundred 🫡🫡
Watch that moment here, ICYMI 👇👇#INDvNZ #TeamIndia @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/8qCReIQ3lc
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2023
The 2nd ODI between India and New Zealand will take place on 21st January at Raipur.