V. Kohli “Sacrifices His…”: Ex-Indian Star Discusses Team’s Selection Struggle vs. New Zealand
- India has a 1-0 lead over New Zealand in the ODI series after dominating Sri Lanka.
- India has a 1-0 lead over New Zealand in the ODI series after dominating Sri Lanka. Due to the absence of KL Rahul (personal reasons) and Shreyas Iyer (injury), the Indian middle order has been bolstered with the addition of opener Ishan Kishan to complement Suryakumar Yadav. The ODI series against Sri Lanka was notable in that Kishan did not play at all while Suryakumar appeared in only the last game.
Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian batter, urged that Virat Kohli give up his no. 3 spot to help with India’s selection problems. - As he did in 2014 when he made room for Ambati Rayudu, he thinks Kohli could bench himself in favor of the more consistent Shubman Gill and bat fourth.
- “We still face certain challenges. The feelings of one man are about to be deeply hurt. If we can get beyond this snafu, I think we can fix things. Virat Kohli gives up his No. 3 hitter in favor of a No. 4 hitter by moving Shubman Gill up to the third spot in the batting order. Many years ago, against Sri Lanka, he did the same thing to Ambati Rayudu. That might be a solution to the problem. After scoring 200, Ishan Kishan realized that a left- and right-handed batting tandem at the top wasn’t such a horrible idea “The Star Sports interview with Manjrekar.
- On Wednesday, despite a scorching century from Michael Bracewell, India beat New Zealand in the first One-Day International in Hyderabad by 12 runs thanks to a superb 208 from Shubman Gill. With New Zealand in serious difficulty at 131-6 while chasing 350, India appeared to be cruising to win as opener Gill struck just the 10th double-century in ODI history.
- In response, Bracewell, an all-rounder, scored 140 runs off 78 balls before being trapped leg-before wicket by Shardul Thakur in the penultimate over.
- India’s fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj had disciplined opening stints, limiting New Zealand’s scoring and scoring opportunities before Bracewell’s late fireworks gave them hope of a sensational victory.
- Even though Finn Allen scored 40 not out at the top of the order, New Zealand was already in deep trouble after Siraj took the sixth wicket of Latham. Together, Bracewell and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner smashed 57 runs off 45 balls in a 162-run stand until Santner was dismissed by Siraj.
- Despite hitting 12 fours and 10 sixes, Bracewell’s team lost because Siraj (4-46) was the best of the Indian bowlers. Only on JioSaavn.com can you hear the newest music.
- Earlier, in an inning that lasted 149 balls and included 19 fours and nine sixes, 23-year-old Gill helped India record a formidable total of 349-8.
