In the final ODI of the three-match series on Tuesday, Team India registered a comprehensive 90-run win over New Zealand and sealed the series whitewash. After two magnificent hundreds from openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, which helped them put up a 212-run stand, the hosts recorded a massive 385/9 in 50 overs. Even after Devon Conway’s century during the chase, the Indian bowlers managed to restrict the visitors to 295 runs.
For his outstanding and consistent performances in the three ODIs, Shubman Gill received the player of the series award. He struck a magnificent double century in the first game, an unbeaten 40 in the second, and followed it up with another ton in the third ODI at Indore. He equaled Pakistani skipper Babar Azam for the most runs in a three-match bilateral ODI series after amassing 360 runs in three games.
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The BCCI posted a video of head coach Rahul Dravid and Gill discussing the team’s convincing victory after the third ODI. The relationship between the two dates back to 2017, when Dravid was the head coach of the Indian U-19 squad to a World Cup triumph in New Zealand, and the youngster served as the winning team’s vice-captain.
Motivation from father, joy of batting with captain @ImRo45 & @imVkohli and special bond with Head Coach ☺️ 👍
Man of the moment, @ShubmanGill, shares it all in this interview with Rahul Dravid 👌 👌 – By @ameyatilak
Full feature 🔽 #TeamIndia | #INDvNZhttps://t.co/sAOk7VUGMk pic.twitter.com/z6kza58nB5
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2023
Dravid, who has followed Gill’s cricket career closely, praised the young India opener for his outstanding efforts with the senior team as the two discussed Gill’s recent ODI performances. Shubman Gill then called attention to a gesture made towards Dravid, towards the end of the video, at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, the venue for the third ODI.
Back in 2015, the stadium’s dressing room was renamed after the legendary former Indian skipper. Pointing out the same, Gill questioned Dravid: “How does it feel to enter the dressing room with your name on it?”
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Rahul Dravid first laughed, and then expressed his appreciation while also admitting that it was “embarrassing.”
The Indian head coach said, “It feels good. I’m grateful for all the love I’ve received over the years from so many people. It’s a privilege to play this sport in this country. The love you receive is phenomenal and I was lucky to have the talent to play cricket and was able to do it for a long time. I also feel a bit embarrassed at times as well. But you do feel very grateful.”
