India v New Zealand, 1st ODI - 5 Talking Points

They’ve done it previously, they’ve done it again. The resilient bunch of cricketers from New Zealand have stopped the seemingly unstoppable Indian team, that too in one of their favourite hunting grounds, Wankhede Stadium. The day was jam-packed with action and record-breaking performances. While the thousands of spectators were mesmerized by their leader, Virat Kohli, they were completely baffled at how two certain Kiwi batters made a mockery of the fierce Indian bowling lineup.

Those who have followed New Zealand’s practice game against IBP XI will know well what the Latham-Taylor partnership is capable of doing. However, little did anyone knew that the same partnership will make a competitive target of 281 look like nothing. Batting first, India managed to score 280 runs, courtesy Kohli’s scintillating ton. New Zealand’s innings had a shaky start, losing 3 wickets for just 80 runs. However, what happened after that is something that the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav would like to forget, and Tom Latham would cherish for a long, long time.

Let us now have a look at the 5 talking points from the cracker of a game.

1. Virat Kohli’s 100

A new series, a new opponent, a new match, but the same old Virat Kohli prevails. Look into the dictionary, and Virat Kohli will be written beside the word ‘consistent’. While wickets kept falling at the other end, Kohli is not the one who would give up easily. For a really long time, the Wankhede crowd have been deprived of an ODI century, and there’s no better man than Kohli to give them that much-awaited gift. His composed knock of 121 runs boasts of 9 boundaries and a couple of sixes. Though he ended up as a tragic hero, he did all he could. Completing his 31st ODI ton at such an early stage has left the spectators with only two words to do justice to him-class apart.

2. Trent Boult’s superb 10 overs

While Kohli was smashing the bowlers at the other end, it is this left-arm speedster from New Zealand, who not only kept things tight but picked up wickets when they’re needed the most. Kane Williamson didn’t have to do too much today, since Boult already did what he wanted. He was responsible for India’s top-order collapse, picking up the wickets of both the openers, in form of Dhawan and Sharma. Not only that, he dismissed the dangerous Hardik Pandya and Mahendra Singh Dhoni right at the time when they were looking dangerous. After all this, he conceded just 35 runs in his 10 overs. While the pundits are heaping praises on Latham and Taylor, the initial job was done by none other than the man from Rotorua.

3. Latham-Taylor’s match-winning partnership

At one stage, New Zealand were reeling with 3 wickets down for just 80 runs. The commentators were already waiting for India to seal the match and get back their No. 1 ODI team spot again. In a matter of few hours, the Wankhede crowd saw one of the partner score a century, while the other batting in the nineties. Latham and Taylor had a gem an understanding, they knew when the other partner is in trouble, and decided to take the onus from him. They rotated the strike, gave the bad balls the treatment they deserve, paid respect to the good deliveries, formed a 200-run partnership, and eventually gave New Zealand a much-needed lead in this 3-match ODI series. While Latham remained unbeaten on 103, Taylor scored 95 runs. juding by their red-hot form, Kohli should sit with Ravi Shastri and formulate a strategy to stop this pair.

4. Failure of spin duo

One of the main reasons why India had to suffer a shocking defeat today was the failure of the Kuldeep-Yuzvendra spin duo. Much was dependent on them, and many expected them to annihilate the Blackcaps just like they annihilated their neighbours, Australia. But Taylor and Latham did their homework quite well and had the answer to every single question thrown up by the two young wrist spinners. While Kuldeep took one wicket by giving away 61 runs, Chahal couldn’t find any joy and gave away 51 crucial runs. It came as a reality check for them, that Williamson’s team is well-prepared, and to trick them, they must try new methods.

5. Kedar Jadhav not utilized

How often have we seen a part-timer break a partnership when the main bowlers had a tough time? And talking of the man with the golden arm, why wasn’t Kedar Jadhav used today? He has found success against the Kiwis previously, and has picked up wickets whenever called upon to do so. Also, today’s hero Tom Latham was one handed the departure ticket by Jadhav. With the other bowlers leaking runs and the partnership taking the form of a giant, Kohli will face this question time and again- What made him keep the ball away from Kedar Jadhav’s hands?