Former Team India captain Sunil Gavaskar has expressed surprise over New Zealand’s dominant victory in the second ODI against India at Rajkot. The veteran cricketer admitted that he never expected the Kiwi team to chase the target so comfortably on Indian soil.
The Rajkot ODI saw Team India bat first after losing the toss. The hosts posted 284 runs for seven wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Among Indian batters, KL Rahul stood tall with a brilliant 112-run knock, anchoring the innings under pressure. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill continued his consistent form by scoring 56 runs, registering his second consecutive half-century in the series.
However, several senior batters failed to make an impact. Rohit Sharma (24) and Virat Kohli (23) could not convert their starts. Shreyas Iyer (8) struggled again, while Ravindra Jadeja (27) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (20) provided only brief support. Young pacer Harshit Rana managed just two runs, adding to India’s batting concerns.
Thanks to KL Rahul’s patience and composure, Team India managed to post a fighting total. Still, the score looked slightly below par on a surface that offered some assistance to bowlers.
When New Zealand began the chase, the script changed quickly. Although openers Devon Conway (16) and Henry Nicholls (10) failed to fire, the middle order took complete control. Daryl Mitchell played a sensational innings, remaining unbeaten on 131 runs, while Will Young provided excellent support with 87 runs.
The Indian bowlers struggled to apply pressure. As a result, New Zealand chased down the target in just 47.3 overs, losing only three wickets. The ease with which the chase unfolded stunned fans and experts alike.
Reacting to the match, Sunil Gavaskar admitted that the outcome surprised him. He said that most people expected Team India to dominate after setting the target. Gavaskar believed the pitch’s slow nature would work in India’s favor. However, the bowlers failed to exploit the conditions.
Gavaskar further pointed out that New Zealand’s bowlers used the pitch better than India. He added that he initially expected India to restrict the visitors to 260–270 runs. Instead, the Kiwi batters looked capable of chasing even 300 runs, highlighting India’s bowling shortcomings.
With the series now level, Gavaskar’s remarks have intensified scrutiny on Team India’s bowling unit. As the teams head into the series decider, India must regroup quickly to avoid another setback against New Zealand.
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