New Delhi:
The Indian cricket team was without Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni heading into the Hamilton ODI against New Zealand. However, with India already having an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and with the rest of the side performing brilliantly, Rohit Sharma would have been confident of sustaining the dominance that saw them win the series here and in Australia. However, a sensational spell of 5/21 from Trent Boult decimated India for 92 in just 30.5 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal, batting at No.10, had the top score of 18 while the highest partnership of the innings was 25 for the ninth wicket between Chahal and his fellow legspinner Kuldeep Yadav.
The collapse in Hamilton has raised questions on how India’s batting can cope up in the absence of both Kohli and Dhoni. Boult was the star in the match and his 5/21 in 10 overs was an exhibition of aggressive swing bowling. He got rid of Shikhar Dhawan (13) with a delivery that nipped back in and he accounted for both Rohit Sharma (7) and debutant Shubman Gill (9) with deliveries that swung back in and the bowler took a sharp return catch. Colin de Grandhomme gave him valuable support with three wickets and in the end, India were simply blown away.
The total of 92 was India’s seventh-lowest score in ODI history. Their lowest is 54 and they achieved this during the ODI against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in 2000. Their other lowest scores are 63 against Australia in Sydney in 1981, followed by 78 against Sri Lanka in 1986 in Kanpur. India were bowled out for 79 against Pakistan in Sialkot in 1979.
This was the second time that India was bowled out under 100 against New Zealand in ODIs. In the 2010 ODI in Dambulla, India were bundled out for 88 and nine years later, they have suffered a similar fate in Hamilton. India’s score of 92 is not only their lowest-ever in New Zealand, but it is also the third-worst by a visiting team in an ODI in New Zealand. Pakistan was bowled out for 74 in Dunedin in 2018 while England were decimated for 89 in the 2002 ODI in Wellington.
Overall, this is the fifth lowest score in ODIs in New Zealand. The hosts hold the record with two low scores. New Zealand were bundled out for 73 by Sri Lanka in 2007 in Auckland while they were bowled out for 74 by Australia in Wellington in 1982.
