India vs New Zealand 2017: 5 things we learnt from the first ODI in Mumbai
Upon needing to win by a 3-0 margin in order to reclaim the number one ranking from South Africa, India slumped to an emphatic defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the first ODI in Mumbai. From failing to access the pitch properly and calibrating their goal to a dismal effort with the ball, the hosts committed quite a few errors.
The Kiwis, who had arrived into the series on the back of intense preparation, rose to the occasion and sauntered to a comprehensive 6-wicket triumph. If their bowling attack was led adeptly by an in-form Trent Boult, the visitors put on a splendid performance with the bat as well to storm to a 1-0 lead.
Let us take a look at five things that we learnt from the opening ODI between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium.
#5 Rohit's recurring issues against left-arm pacers
In spite of expressing his wariness regarding the menace posed by Trent Boult and his incredibly artful swing bowling, Indian opener Rohit Sharma failed to pay heed to his own pre-match words. Once the 28-year old pacer snared Shikhar Dhawan by converting the extra bounce on the surface into a wicket-taking opportunity, the elegant opener could have played true to his customary cautious tendency during the initial phase of the innings.
Extra Cover: India vs New Zealand 2017, 1st ODI - Trent Boult's sizzling spell is SK Turning Point of the match
But Rohit kept offering chances to the Kiwi fielders and lived a charmed life. After an aimless aggressive shot saw him survive by a slender margin, the local lad's luck eventually ran out. To a much fuller and quicker delivery than he would have anticipated, the right-hander inexplicably resorted to an almighty heave and consequently paid the price for his error in judgement. From Pakistan's Mohammad Amir in the Champions Trophy to Australia's Jason Behrendorff and Boult in more recent times, Rohit's weakness against left-arm fast bowlers is becoming more pronounced with every series. With two more ODIs left, the southpaw from New Zealand will fancy his chances against the opener.