India’s opening One-Day International match against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland was a rout. The Men in Blue scored a formidable 306/7, with half-centuries from Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, and Shubman Gill and a rapid-fire 37* from Washington Sundar off only 16 balls.
Despite losing seven wickets, the home team reached their target with 17 balls to spare. Tom Latham scored 145 runs unbeaten in 104 balls, and Kane Williamson added 94 runs not out. Both New Zealand batsmen were able to score runs at will against an inexperienced Indian bowling attack.
As a result of the defeat, both fans and experts are questioning India’s batting strategy and calling for the team to take after England’s aggressive approach.
Shreyas, the game’s leading run scorer for India with 80, responded to his critics head-on in Friday’s post-match press conference. He said that in the one-day international format, they have to ease into attacking cricket.
“Abhi seedha jaake T20 mode me toh nehi khel sakte (We can’t play in the T20 mode straightaway in fifty overs). One can plan his batting by looking at the wicket and deciding in his mind what a par score would be. One needs to adapt. Fifty overs can change from time to time. Sometimes there can be sunset, there can be dew at other times and you don’t know how the wicket will play,” Shreyas said after the game on Friday.
Despite posting a score of 300+ in the first ODI, the Indian team has come under fire for their performance. India was in a bind at 160-4 after 32.5 overs, but Shreyas, Sanju Samson, and Washington Sundar batted brilliantly to help their team post a massive score. Shreyas noted that the 307-run total was a respectable effort, but ultimately unsuccessful.
