IND Vs NZ 3rd ODI Review: Top Performers of 3rd One-Day International Match

IND Vs NZ 3rd ODI Review: India bagged the one-day international series of the fifty overs format at Raipur.

But the men in blue had a chance to be in the pole position of the ICC ODI rankings and that is why the 3rd ODI between these two nations was important as well despite the series win for Rohit and co. The home side hasn’t lost at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. 

India has maintained their winning streak at this venue as they piled up runs after New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first.

The Kiwi bowlers were smashed all around the park by the Indian openers and later by Hardik Pandya.

But still, the team couldn’t get to more than four hundred runs as the visitors (New Zealand) managed to restrict the Indian run flow. The middle order had lost another opportunity. 

This ODI series wasn’t great for Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan. Kohli was the brilliant form prior to this three-match series of the fifty overs format while SKY and Kishan were also in good nick, especially in the T20Is.

However, they couldn’t transfer that good form in the fifty-overs format and that’s why India had to be content with just 385 runs on the board.

Today we shall name the top performers of the 3rd match which India won by 90 runs. After this series, India and New Zealand will gear up in the three-match T20I series which will start from Friday, 27th January 2023 at Ranchi. 

1. Rohit Sharma (Rohit & Gill’s partnership of 212 runs)

The Indian skipper had looked in good touch. But somehow he had failed to convert the starts into the three-figure mark.

But yesterday, Hit Man looked in awesome touch and made most of the batting-friendly track of Indore.

The skipper scored a ton after a very long gap. He played a knock of 101 runs that came in just 85 balls with nine fours and six sixes.

2. Shubman Gill (Rohit & Gill’s partnership of 212 runs)

The Prince too batted extremely well with the skipper. Gill was awarded as the man of the series for scoring the most runs.

Shubman had also scored a double ton in the first ODI at Hyderabad. His knock of 208 runs propelled the team to a score of 349 runs.

Then he scored unbeaten 40 runs in a low run chase of 108 runs and followed it up with another brilliant inning of 112 runs in yesterday’s game at Indore. Overall, Gill had scored 360 runs in three matches and that many innings.

3. Hardik Pandya’s valuable 54 runs knock

The Indian pace bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya played a fantastic inning and that too when the team needed it the most.

India had lost Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Washington Sundar early.

The innings looked like it would never get close to even 360 runs at one stage. The Blues needed a move on and the finishing kick at the same time.

Hardik Pandya shared a vital 54-run partnership with Shardul Thakur and provided that much-needed momentum in the innings.

Pandya scored 54 runs and he was dismissed in the 48th over before Shardul Thakur. These 54 runs from Hardik were very important in the context of the match.

Hardik had scored 54 runs in just 38 deliveries with three fours and three sixes.

4. Shardul Thakur gave an all-rounder performance in the 3rd ODI

Another Indian pace-bowling all-rounder stood up when the team needed him the most. Shardul Thakur too was brilliant in the 3rd one-day international match at Indore yesterday i.e. Jan 23.

He provided brilliant support to Hardik Pandya and helped India to set a good score and with the ball as well he picked up three wickets in a six-over spell.

Adding Lord Thakur to the playing XI gives India a batting depth and his ability to pick up wickets at any stage of the game makes him a special player. 

Devon Conway stood alone in the tall run chase

In this list, only one player from the Kiwi's side has been mentioned. The visitors had a tough series overall. Apart from the fightback in the first ODI, nothing has gone their way.

In the 3rd and the final ODI as well, their batters failed to step up and the bowlers had leaked runs from the word go.

Devon Conway was the only one who stood up for the fight. His innings of 138 runs kept the Kiwis in the hunt.

Still, it didn’t take them to a victory and because of that they also lost their number one spot in the ODI rankings.