Rohit Sharma (101) finally ended his ODI century drought, scoring a hundred after three years while his opening partner Shubman Gill got a third hundred in four games. The twin tons laid the foundation for India’s comprehensive 90-run win over New Zealand in the third and final ODI in Indore on Tuesday.
With yet another series sweep after routing Sri Lanka earlier this month, this 3-0 win over New Zealand also earned India the No.1 spot in the ODI rankings.
India looked set to post a 400-plus total after skipper Rohit and Gill’s rousing 212- run stand in 26 overs, but they lost wickets in the middle. However, Hardik Pandya (54) and fellow all-rounder Shardul Thakur (25) forged 54 for the seventh wicket that helped India to 385/9.
Devon Conway’s flamboyant hundred (138 off 100 balls) kept New Zealand in the game, but Shardul’s strikes off consecutive balls in the 26th over — he removed Daryl Mitchell and stand-in captain Tom Latham — tilted the game in India’s favour.
The in-form Kuldeep Yadav, too, continued to impress as India bowled New Zealand out for 295 with 8.4 overs still remaining.
Umran Malik, who came in as a replacement for Mohammed Shami, was expensive but did take the key scalp of Conway. India also rested their other frontline quick, Mohammed Siraj, who was replaced by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
“In the last six games, we’ve done most things right. We’ve been consistent in our approach with both bat and ball. And that worked out well,” Rohit said at the postmatch presentation.
