While Team India lost the rain-marred 50-over series in New Zealand, former coach Ravi Shastri reckons that the visitors can take a lot of positives from the three ODIs.
New Zealand clinched the series 1-0 after the third and final ODI got abandoned due to rain in Christchurch on Wednesday (November 30). The second ODI, in Hamilton, was also called off owing to rain whereas the Kiwis won the series opener in Auckland by seven wickets.
Despite the series defeat, certain Indian players like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar and Umran Malik sparkled, catching Shastri’s attention.
“I think a lot of positives came from this one-day series. Shreyas Iyer getting runs in a couple of matches, willing to stay there and willing to go through the tough period. Suryakumar of course has the potential, has the talent, and he will deliver,” Shastri said during Prime Video’s post-match coverage.
“Washington Sundar, I thought was very good. And even Umran Malik, I like the way he bowled. There’s potential there. If he can persevere, it will be very good.
“All around, there was very positive Shubman Gill at the start of the innings. These conditions are tough, you don’t get these conditions often, and you don’t travel to New Zealand that often,” he added.
“So I think for young cricketers to come here and get this kind of exposure is excellent. The weather and the ground dimensions need to be taken into account.”
The white-balls series turned out to be a memorable one for Sundar, who was battling injuries for the last two seasons.
Shastri showered rich praise on the all-rounder, who scored 51 off 64 balls in the third ODI, days after his 16-ball 37* in the series opener.
“He grabbed the opportunity with both hands. And today I think he showed great maturity with the bat. Tough conditions, the top order struggled, and the ball was beating the bat but right from the outset in 5-7 minutes you knew this guy was composed.
“He looked organized, he left the ball well and the balance was fabulous and his footwork very positive.
“When he hit a couple of boundaries you knew he was on his way. So this innings will do him a world of good. Proper batter in tough conditions to get a half-century. I think he should take that,” Shastri said.
(With PTI inputs)
