It was an amazing outing for the Indian team in the first ODI against New Zealand in Hyderabad on January 18, as the hosts defeated the visitors in a tightly fought contest by 12 runs and went 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series.
Set 350 to chase and win the match, New Zealand looked down and out at 131/6 at one stage, but then Mitchell Santner (57) and Michael Bracewell hammered the Indian bowling to all parts of the Rajiv Gandhi International cricket stadium.
Bracewell (140) almost took New Zealand past the finish line even hitting Shardul Thakur for a six on the first ball of the 50th over with 20 runs needed off the last six balls. But Thakur’s pinpoint yorker caught Bracewell in front of the stumps and India managed to bowl out New Zealand for 337 runs.
Before that, India batted first after Rohit Sharma won the toss and got a good start of 60 runs in 12.1 overs. Sharma got out for 34 runs but it was Shubman Gill who held the whole innings together scoring his third ODI century in 87 balls.
He continued hammering the Kiwi bowlers and reached his maiden ODI double ton in 145 balls and finished on 208 runs with 19 fours and 9 sixes to his name, while no other Indian could cross the 50-run mark, as the Men in Blue made 349/8 in 50 overs.
Gill was also named Player of the Match and later met up with fellow members of the ODI double-century club Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan for an interview for BCCI.tv.
The ‘Hitman’ was also seen pulling Kishan’s leg in the video, while there was a lot of banter between Gill and Ishan. When quizzed by Kishan about his preparation ahead of the match, Gill stated that since he shares his room with Ishan, he cannot prepare in peace because of the latter’s habit to listen to loud music.
“He (Kishan) spoils my entire pre-match routine as he doesn’t let me sleep. He doesn’t use earphones and watches movie in full volume. “I abuse him and ask him to turn down the volume but he says it is his room and the rules will be according to him. I fight with him daily). This is my pre-match," added Gill.
“I think it is because you slept in my room, you scored my runs," replied Kishan.
Later in the video, Rohit said, “From myself and Ishan, welcome to the 200 club," after which Gill replied with “Pleasure," as Kishan too congratulated his compatriot.
Further in the interview, Rohit pulled Kishan’s leg and said: “Ishan, you scored 200 and didn’t play 3 matches.”
Kishan using his quick wit replied: “Bhaiya captain toh aap hain (But you’re the captain!)" as the trio burst out into laughter.
Check out the video here:
The second ODI will be played in Raipur on January 21.
