The India vs New Zealand Super 12 group 2 match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium started on a wild note, with pacer Trent Boult getting rid of India opener Ishan Kishan in the 3rd over. Both teams came into the match after facing defeats at the hands of Babar Azam-led Pakistan. This is a virtual do-or-die for both nations.
Kane Williamson after winning the toss invited India to bat, a decision that paid dividends. At the toss, India captain Virat Kohli announced that Suryakumar Yadav will be making way for young Ishan Kishan because of an injury.
It was an exciting addition to the Indian team, keeping in mind the left-arm threat of Trent Boult. However, Boult being Boult showed who’s boss and dismissed Kishan.
However, he was not done. He wanted to do more damage upfront. Rohit Sharma came out to bat next. Knowing Rohit’s love affair with pull and hook shots, Boult bowled a short delivery.
Rohit went for the hook shot but was uncontrolled. The ball flew straight to Adam Milne, who was placed at fine leg. But the catch was spilled by the fielder. Could he have lost the ball in the background or was he not placed perfectly, who knows? But this dropped catch means, the right-handed batsman got a lifeline.
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However, the happiness was short-lived. After the powerplay ended, Ish Sodhi was brought into the bowling attack and he did the trick.
Sodhi bowled a short ball and Rohit’s eyes lit up. However, he mistimes his pull short and sent straight to Martin Guptill in the deep, who completed the catch comfortably.
During his stay in the middle, the Indian right-handed batsman hit one four and as many maximum.
What Virat Kohli said at the toss:
“We need a solid start and have wickets in hand to get those extra 20-25 runs are the learnings from the last game. We do have the bowling line-up to take wickets, but when you don’t have runs on the board one partnership can take the game away from you. We understand that and plans are there to get those extra runs.”