Kane Williamson, in the post-match presentation ceremony, pointed out that they lost too many wickets in the first ten overs while MS Dhoni lauded the efforts of his bowlers.
Here are five things we learnt from India’s victory in the first ODI:
PANDYA’S PERFECT DEBUT
Hardik Pandya must have received some valuable bowling advice from Indian legend Kapil Dev when he received his ODI cap from him. Giving up his preference for bowling predominantly short of good length deliveries, he pitched the ball up and relied on swing on his ODI debut.
As a result, he was rewarded with three wickets and adjudged to be the Man of the Match.
In fact, Pandya can now boast the fourth best bowling figures on debut in an ODI. He is also only the fourth Indian to win the Man of the Match award on his debut.
Pandya can be the all important limited overs all-rounder for whom India have long been searching. If he can keep bowling like this and add a few runs with the bat, it would be tough to leave him out of the team.
LATHAM SHOWS ODI CREDENTIALS
As batsmen around him lost their heads, Tom Latham adopted a more calm and measured approach, showing that there were no traceable demons in the pitch. It was his fighting score of 79 and the partnerships he managed with Doug Bracewell and Tim Southee that gave the Kiwis’ total a semblance of respectability.
In doing so, Latham became the first New Zealand batsman to carry his bat in an ODI innings. The most heartening thing for the Blackcaps from the first ODI will be Latham’s innings and the fight he showed to take their total to 190.
The other New Zealand batsmen must take a leaf out of Latham’s book and show more application in the second ODI in Delhi.
INDIA STRUGGLE WITH NEW ZEALAND’S TAIL
It is said that when you win, your faults are easily overlooked, but Team India must do some serious introspection to ascertain why they have developed some difficulty in removing tail-enders in recent times.
At 67 for 7, India had New Zealand on the mat, but the visitors managed to crawl their way back, courtesy a counter-attacking knock by Tim Southee. The Indian bowlers were guilty of bowling too many short deliveries as the yorker remained largely an unused weapon.
Southee’s counter-attack helped the Kiwis reach a respectable total of 190. The Indian bowlers will have to be more clinical in the future should they find themselves in a similar situation.
KOHLI’S FINE FORM CONTINUES
Although India successfully chased down the small total with relative ease, the man who stood out for his batting was Virat Kohli. The Indian Test captain was in sublime form as he once again proved what a vital player he is while chasing.
Most of his cover drives in the first ODI were magical to watch as the commentators hailed it as the best among active international cricketers. Truly, the way Kohli leaned into the drive was a treat for any spectator.
By chasing down the total and remaining not out at the end, he only added to the unreal stats he has notched up while batting second in limited overs cricket. It was also his 37rd ODI half-century.
Virat Kohli's averages this year:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 16, 2016
Tests - 56.00 in 10 inns
ODIs - 92.80 in 6 inns
T20Is - 106.83 in 13 inns
All T20s - 89.66 in 29 inns
BAD TIMES FOR NEW ZEALAND
It was strongly suggested that although New Zealand lost the Test series badly, the one-dayers would be a different ball game. The Kiwis are a really good limited overs outfit and have played some good cricket over the years in the shorter versions of the game.
The crowd at Dharamsala came in thinking they would get to see a closely contested affair but were left disappointed. The Blackcaps’ top-order lost their way all too soon, leaving the tail-enders too much to do.
When someone like Kedar Jadhav dismisses two middle-order batsmen, Kane Williamson’s men have reason enough to be worried. New Zealand will have to pull up their socks soon because the ODI series could turn into another humiliating saga for them.
