Five best Indian ODI knocks in New Zealand

The Kiwi side is one of the teams in world cricket who play the fewest of games in the international circuit. Even then, whenever India and New Zealand have played each other in the southern hemisphere, we have gotten to see many a mouthwatering clash. With India having conquered Australia and heading to the neighbouring country for a tour of 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is, we take a look at the five best Indian batting performances in New Zealand.

5. Ravindra Jadeja (2014)

‘Sir Jadeja’ as he is fondly called, is one of the most talented allrounders in the game of cricket. The man from Jamnagar, Gujarat played a scintillating knock to deny New Zealand a win at the Eden Park in Auckland, which is known for its short boundaries. After a middle-order collapse which saw 4 Indian wickets fall for 15 runs in 7 overs, and with MS Dhoni returning to the pavilion after a handy partnership with Suresh Raina, the scorecard read 184/6. In walked Ravindra Jadeja at No.8, having been demoted down the batting order after previous failures. With 131 still required from 92 deliveries, Jadeja continued his good form (Bowling figures of 2/47) and combined with ravichandran Ashwin to stitch an attacking 85-run stand. When Ashwin was dismissed, India needed 29 from 13, with one wicket left. Jadeja farmed the strike and took the target to 18 off the final over, which Corey Anderson was to bowl. With two fours and a six, Jadeja forced a tie singlehandedly as he finished with 66 off 45 balls. 

4. Rahul Dravid (1999)

Nicknamed the ‘Wall’, Rahul Dravid was always someone the team turned to, in the worst of crisis situations. His fighting spirit and technique came to the fore in the first ever ODI at the Owen Delany Park in Taupo, as India elected to bat in the first ODI. With Sachin Tendulkar dismissed for a duck, Rahul Dravid came in to bat, and aided by Sourav Ganguly’s valuable knock of 60, displayed a remarkable performance against the Kiwi attack. Dravid stitched a good partnership with the Indian captain Mohd. Azharuddin and scored a run-a-ball century. His 123 was laced with 10 fours and one six. Dravid remained unbeaten and drove India to a good total of 257 from their quota of 50 overs. New Zealand managed to reach their revised target of 200, as per the Duckworth-Lewis method, and Rahul Dravid was adjudged to be the Man of the Match.

3. Virat Kohli (2014)

The quintessential chaser, Virat Kohli has managed to take India beyond the line whenever he comes in to bat, with a target in mind. However, this particular occasion saw the Kiwis upstaging the Indians and marked only the second time India lost the match despite Kohli scoring a century. India won the toss at the McLean Park in Napier and put in the New Zealanders to bat. The Kiwis scored 292, and the Men in Blue did not get to the best of starts as Rohit Sharma found himself marching back to the pavilion after making only 3 runs. Kohli came in to bat and made a handy partnership with Shikhar Dhawan, and after the opener was dismissed for 32, it was upon himself and MS Dhoni to take India home. The duo made a stand of 95, and Kohli reached his 18th ODI century and by the time he got out, the dashing player from Delhi had made 123 from 111 balls. India lost the match despite Virat’s valiant efforts.

2. Sachin Tendulkar (2009)

Arguably one of the greatest ever to have played the game, Sachin Tendulkar was in his elements during the third ODI played between India and New Zealand at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch. Going into the match after leading 1-0, India were put in to bat by the Kiwis, who did not foresee the thumping that they were about to receive at the hands of the Indians. The Master Blaster combined with Yuvraj Singh and plundered the Kiwi attack, setting every blade of grass on the field, ablaze. Yuvi’s 60-ball 87, helped Sachin build his innings, and soon Tendulkar reached his 43rd century. He started accelerating and by the time he was made to retire hurt, his 163 runs had come off 133 deliveries, with 16 fours and five sixes. India’s total of 392 was then the highest total made in New Zealand, to which the Kiwis replied with a good effort with the bat, although they fell short by 58 runs, reaching 334. Sachin was declared as the Man of the Match.

1. Virender Sehwag (2009)

In what was a trailblazing batting performance, Virender Sehwag blasted away India’s fastest ever ODI century as India raced to a 3-0 lead over the home side in the fourth ODI at Seddon Park in Hamilton. Courtesy the opening partnership between Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder, New Zealand reached a good total of 270/5 from 47 overs, as rain started impacting the game. India, in reply, were off to a blistering start as Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag started attacking from the word go. Viru reached his three-figures off just 60 balls in the 18th over, as the frenzied batting display from the opening duo had demotivated the Kiwi bowlers totally. India found itself at 201 for the loss of no wickets when it started pouring, and they were 84 runs ahead of their D/L target of 118, due to this masterclass from Viru. Sehwag was unsurprisingly the Man of the Match.