Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
1st ODI, India v New Zealand, Mumbai
Expect the Wankhede in Mumbai to be packed for such a momentous occasion – one of their best ever ODI batsmen reaches a huge milestone!
India captain and World No. 2 ODI batsman Virat Kohli plays his 200th ODI, as India reach their next assignment, vs New Zealand.
While this series has been hastily arranged, and might not mean a lot to the neutral, both teams will be motivated to get going.
For India, they would not only want to mark Virat Kohli’s 200th ODI with a win, but also build on their great run since the Champions Trophy. Since the tournament, India have won 12 out of 15 ODIs, against West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia. It is an opportunity to continue experimenting with their side, despite the 2019 World Cup being played in vastly different conditions in England.
For New Zealand, their ODI performances in 2017 have been a little disappointing, highlighted by missing the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy. Brendon McCullum has been a huge loss for them, and their middle order just doesn’t seem to ever click. However, they’ll have hope that they can do well in these conditions in the limited-overs format. Remember what their spinners did to India in the World T20 last year? They’d love to spoil the Virat Kohli party.
Key to an India win
It’s easy to say “keep doing what you’re doing”, but India have been getting many things right lately.
You expect India’s batting to do well, but it will be the ability of their bowlers to test New Zealand which holds the key. India’s late innings bowling was brilliant against Australia – there were times you thought Australia would reach 380+, but India held things back.
India possess great variety in their attack and will be a handful for the New Zealand batsmen. Hardik Pandya has added so much to this side, and will have a role to play again. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are excellent ODI bowlers, and will be complimented very well by Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Add the sneaky low arm off spin of Kedar Yadav, and New Zealand have a big challenge on their hands.
Key to a New Zealand win
Possible line ups:
Stats & Facts:
- Virat Kohli, playing his 200th game, is the fastest ever to reach 30 ODI Hundreds, 81 innings quicker than Sachin Tendulkar and 163 quicker than Ricky Ponting.
- A big series for Virat Kohli could see him reach 9,000 ODI runs. He is 233 runs away. AB De Villiers is currently the quickest to the mark (205 innings). Kohli has 13 innings to score 233 and break this record.
- In 2017, Kane Williamson has highlighted his class in ODIs. He has scored 480 runs at 48.80 and strike rate of nearly 90.
- Since the Champions Trophy, India have won 12 of 14 completed ODIs.
- In the Champions Trophy, New Zealand’s top four batsmen contributed 559 runs at an average of 46.58. The remaining batsmen contributed 191 runs at 10.61.
