The One-Day International series opener between India and New Zealand was already special for the Indians as their beloved captain Virat Kohli was going to win his 200th ODI cap for his nation in Mumbai. The build up for this match was all around him and he didn’t disappoint anyone.
Coin fell in Kohli’s favour and he decided to bat first in very humid condition of Mumbai. Against all odds, the pitch of Wankhede Stadium was looking very upish. Shikhar Dhawan made a comeback and failed to score big. Outcome the Indian skipper Kohli and gets a big cheer from everyone in the crowd. Meanwhile, Rohit’s misery against left-arm pacers continued as he perished to Trent Bolt.
Today, Kedar Jadhav stopped in front of the musical chare game for India’s number four position. He along with Kohli tried to steady the ship before perishing to Mitchell Santner. Dinesh Karthik, India’s new inclusion in the XI, too, was in good flow but didn’t convert this opportunity into a big knock. On the other end, Kohli was slowly getting comfortable in the middle and raised up yet another century. He was playing anchor’s knock and reached to his 31st ODI ton, which overtook him Ricky Ponting in the all-time tally of centuries.
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar’s cameo down the order brought India’s modest total into a fighting total on a slow and rare Mumbai track. Kohli and Bhuvi both perished in the final over to Tim Southee as Team India finished at 280/8. Trent Bolt was pick of the bowlers with 4/35 along with his new ball partner Southee, who registered 3/73.
New Zealand has a big task in front but their rotation in the batting order can decode this chase. We will find this out after the chase from Kiwis.
