Rajkumar Sharma Praises India's ODI Series Triumph Over New Zealand
India's ODI Series Victory Against New Zealand
Abu Dhabi [UAE], November 15: Rajkumar Sharma, the childhood coach of Virat Kohli, commended India's impressive 3-1 ODI series win against New Zealand. He emphasized the significance of this achievement, especially considering the tough playing conditions in the host nation, and noted that this tour serves as excellent preparation for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa. India secured the series with a 22-run victory in the fifth and final ODI at Bay Oval on Sunday, marking their third bilateral ODI series win in New Zealand, following successes in 2009 and 2018-19.
"This is a remarkable victory. Winning against New Zealand in their home ground is no small feat due to the unique conditions. This series has provided valuable preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup, where similar conditions will be present in South Africa. The Indian team had a great opportunity to prepare, and despite the challenging wickets, they performed well. I extend my congratulations to the entire team for this outstanding achievement," Sharma stated.
Sharma also expressed optimism regarding Kohli's performance, highlighting the former captain's strong showing in the series opener as a positive indicator for future matches. "Virat demonstrated his skill in the first match, showcasing his excellent form. His dominance on the wicket in the opening game is a good sign for Indian cricket," he added.
Kohli kicked off the series with a stellar 74 runs off 51 balls, including 13 fours and a six, leading India to a five-wicket victory in the first ODI. However, his performance fluctuated, as he scored only seven runs in the second match, while the third ODI was abandoned due to rain. In the fourth match, he was dismissed for a duck and managed just five runs in the series finale.
India clinched the series with a disciplined bowling performance in a low-scoring match. After being put to bat, India was all out for 209 runs in 42.1 overs, with Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel both scoring 46 runs, while stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer added 22 runs. New Zealand's bowlers, Jacob Duffy and Mitchell Santner, each took three wickets, and Matthew Fisher claimed two. In response, New Zealand was bowled out for 187 runs in 48.1 overs, with Dean Foxcroft scoring the highest at 31 runs. Arshdeep Singh led India's bowling attack with three wickets, while Axar Patel and Mohammed Siraj each took two wickets, helping India defend their total by 22 runs. This victory capped off a successful white-ball tour for India, who also won the preceding T20I series.