Rajkot, India - India's captain, Shubman Gill, has expressed his disappointment following his team's seven-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday. The loss leveled the three-match series 1-1, setting up a crucial decider. Gill rued the lack of wickets in the middle overs and missed opportunities in the field as key factors contributing to the defeat.
New Zealand's victory was anchored by an impressive unbeaten century from Daryl Mitchell, who scored 131 runs off 117 balls. Will Young also contributed significantly with a composed 87, as the pair formed a 162-run partnership for the third wicket. Their strong partnership propelled New Zealand to chase down the target of 285 comfortably, completing their highest successful ODI chase in India.
India had earlier posted a total of 284/7, largely due to a resilient, unbeaten century from KL Rahul, who scored 112 off 91 balls. Rahul's innings was crucial in holding the innings together after a mid-innings slump. However, the total proved insufficient as New Zealand's batsmen dominated the chase.
In the post-match presentation, Gill pointed out the significance of taking wickets during the middle overs, especially with five fielders inside the circle. He stated that the team started well but lost momentum and struggled to control the scoring as they couldn't pick up wickets. He felt that even adding 15-20 more runs wouldn't have guaranteed a win, emphasizing the importance of breakthroughs in the middle overs. Gill said, "I think we could not pick any wickets in the middle overs. If you don't take wickets in the middle overs with 5 fielders inside the circle. It becomes difficult to defend a target".
Gill also acknowledged the missed chances in the field, which further hurt India's chances. He admitted that the team is consistently working to improve their fielding, but failing to capitalize on opportunities can be detrimental. A dropped catch by Prasidh Krishna when Mitchell was on 80 proved particularly costly.
The Indian spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, struggled to make an impact, conceding 126 runs from 18 overs while taking only one wicket. In contrast, New Zealand's spinners, Jayden Lennox and Michael Bracewell, were more effective in keeping India in check during the middle overs.
Looking ahead, Gill stressed the importance of bravery and calculated risk-taking. He felt the bowlers could have been bolder with their line and length, focusing on taking wickets rather than solely trying to contain runs.
The series now heads to Indore for the final ODI, where India and New Zealand will battle it out for the series victory. With both teams evenly matched, the decider promises to be a thrilling encounter. India will need to address their bowling concerns and fielding lapses to overcome a determined New Zealand side.
