Former captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his astonishment at how effortlessly New Zealand triumphed over India in the second ODI held at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Following India’s defeat, Gavaskar remarked on the visitors’ smooth journey to victory, highlighting how New Zealand’s bowlers effectively exploited the pitch’s sluggishness.
“I was taken aback by how comfortably New Zealand crossed the finish line, as many believed India would capitalize on the surface’s slow nature before they batted,” he commented during JioHotstar’s ‘Amul Cricket Live’.
“With their bowlers—both spinners and pacers—mastering the pitch’s slowness, I anticipated India would limit New Zealand to around 260 or 270 runs. I thought that would pave the way for an easy win for India,” the cricketing icon added.
Gavaskar further noted that the visitors demonstrated how to chase a target nearing 300 runs by taking their time to settle in and then showcasing their batting skills and agility between the wickets.
“They illustrated how a target close to 300 can be successfully chased by patiently finding their footing and trusting their ability to score while running well between the wickets,” he stated.
Additionally, Gavaskar expressed that had India emerged victorious in the second ODI, it would have allowed for experimentation within the team, possibly giving opportunities to players like Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“If they had won this match, they could have explored options, allowing those who haven’t played yet, such as Jaiswal, to get some time on the field. But now, they can’t afford any risks; they must field their strongest eleven again,” the 76-year-old cricketer noted.
With the series now tied at 1-1, the third ODI between Team India and New Zealand is set for January 18 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.