NZ v IND 2019: Mohammad Azharuddin hails Team India's stellar performance in the second ODI

India thrashed New Zealand by 90 runs in the second ODI at Bay Oval to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Team India are playing outstanding cricket lately | Getty

Team India registered a thumping 90-run victory over New Zealand in the second ODI at Bay Oval on Saturday. By virtue of this win, the Men in Blue also secured a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.

Opting to bat first, India rode on Rohit Sharma’s 87 and Shikhar Dhawan’s 66 to post 324/4 in 50 overs. Later, wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav (4/45) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/52) picked up six wickets between them to bundle out the hosts for 234 in 40.2 overs.

Impressed with Kohli and his men’s stellar performance in the second successive ODI, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin told Sports Tak, "It was yet another dominant performance by the Indian team, especially spinners. No doubt, Doug Bracewell batted well, played the way he naturally does. But the top order also needed to play their natural game. Until you find ways to read Kuldeep and Chahal, you will not succeed. It's still easier to play a finger spinner but very difficult to bat against wrist spinners."

"We have a very good team and it has been performing this way for the last 4-5 years now. Not just one day, we have a very good side across formats. The standard of other teams may have gone down a little but we have just gone from strength-to-strength. Whoever will compete with us, the result will be same," he added.

Meanwhile, Kohli is all set to be rested for the last two ODIs and the subsequent T20I series against New Zealand. The decision has been taken keeping in mind the excessive workload on the Indian captain. In Virat’s absence, Rohit Sharma will lead the side.

"Virat Kohli also needs rest. He has been playing continuously for a long time now. He is scoring runs consistently and is also a very active fielder, so it's good that he is getting a rest," Azharuddin said.

The third ODI between India and New Zealand take place in Mount Maunganui on Monday before the two teams travel to Hamilton for the fourth match of the series on Thursday, January 31. The fifth and final ODI will be played in Wellington on February 3.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 27 Jan, 2019

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