New Zealand pace bowler Jacob Duffy questioned whether veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli could have batted with the same aggression if they had batted first or chased a bigger score in the first ODI as well. However, the target in front of India kept
shrinking as well. New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs, Arshdeep Singh taking 4/70, Gurnoor Brar 3/44 and Anshul Kamboj 2/22 after India chose to field first as well.

Reacting to this at the post-match press conference, Duffy said (via the Crex YouTube channel): “If they’re batting first or there’s a bigger score on the board, it’ll be interesting to see if he plays like that. I don’t know if he will. I don’t want to give away all the scouting tips; I did get some intel in the nets over in Bengaluru. But there aren’t many holes in that man’s game. On small grounds like that, he uses the pace really well.”

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He, despite questioning Virat Kohli’s approach if the situation were different, had applauded his knock in the series opener as well.

“A small target like that, if you have a guy come out with that kind of intent, it can break the task pretty easily. And he is a pretty good guy to do it. It was impressive. He didn’t struggle with the bounce and got inside those hook shots and pull shots, and he can work you down the ground. No surprises. He’s a good player and has done it for a lot of years. He did that to me on the nets at Bengaluru,” Duffy concluded.