New Zealand vs India 2019: 4 takeaways for India from the ODI series
India thrashed the Kiwis 4-1 in the ODIs after their successful campaign against the Aussies. The Indian team had sealed the series in the 3rd ODI itself as they won the first 3 games convincingly.
The 4th ODI showed the Kiwis put up a dominant show as they defeated the Rohit Sharma led side by 8 wickets to hand them their biggest ever ODI loss in terms of balls to spare. But the Indian side scripted a spirited comeback in the last ODI as they went put up a total of 252 after losing their top order with the score at 22 for 4.
The Indian bowlers then bowled tight lines as they restricted the Kiwis to 217 and won by 35 runs.
Here is a look at the 4 major takeaways for the Indian team from the ODI series against New Zealand:
1. Reduced dependence on Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah had a great 2018 which saw him become an integral part of the Indian team across all the 3 formats of the game. He was then rested for the tour of New Zealand.
With Bumrah rested, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar stepped up to bundle the Kiwis out in 4 out of the 5 ODIs. Shami emerged as the second highest wicket-taker of the tournament as he picked up 9 wickets in 4 games at a terrific average of 15.33. He was even adjudged the Man of the Series for his spectacular show.
Bhuvneshwar had a decent outing too as he picked up 7 wickets in the 5 games.
2. The performance of the spin twins, Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal
The spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal had a great time in New Zealand as they picked up 17 wickets between themselves, providing the side important breakthroughs whenever required.
Kuldeep played 4 games and picked up 8 wickets at an average of 15.62 and an economy rate of 4.31. Chahal played all the 5 games and ended up as the joint second highest wicket-taker in the series with 9 wickets to his name.
Chahal and Yadav played an instrumental role in knocking the Kiwis out in 4 games as they picked up 40% of the wickets.