VVS Laxman is all praise for New Zealand as they have taken an unbeatable 2-0 lead vs India in the three-match ODI series.
"As delighted as New Zealand must have been at mounting their highest run chase in Hamilton, Saturday's victory in Auckland that helped them clinch the ODI series will be more satisfying. Already without several key players, they had to grapple with a gastro bug sweeping through their ranks, a sub-par score and a formidable Indian batting line-up, yet such was their desperation to win that they defended 273 quite expertly," he wrote in his TOI column.
New Zealand wrapped up the ODI series with veteran Ross Taylor and debutant Kyle Jamieson combining for an unbeaten 76-run partnership following a middle-order collapse to get New Zealand through to 273.
"Once again, Ross Taylor showed what a class act he is, batting through the innings after India clawed their way back in the middle stages. Martin Guptill played an excellent hand, but until debutant Kyle Jamieson joined him, Taylor was waging a lone battle. At one stage, it looked as if New Zealand might have to settle for 220 or thereabouts, but through sensible batting, they reached a total which gave their bowlers something to fight with," Laxman added.
Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been wicketless in both the matches and has also been expensive, failing to control the aggressive scoring by the Kiwi batsmen. Bumrah conceded 53 runs in the 1st ODI and was taken for 64 runs in the 2nd ODI. In both the matches Bumrah bowled his full quota of ten overs.
"It must be a cause for concern for India that Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli's go-to bowler whenever he has needed breakthroughs, has been short of wickets all tour. Additionally, his lengths too haven't been spot-on, which means he hasn't been able to impose usual pressure. Of course, New Zealand's batsmen have played him well, with Taylor in the forefront," Laxman opined.
New Zealand pace bowler Tim Southee -- who was unwell and only played because his team had no other bowlers to call on -- made history when he dismissed Virat Kohli for 15 in the 2nd ODI. It was a record ninth time Southee dismissed Kohli across all formats and moved him past England pair James Anderson and Graeme Swann who have claimed the Indian captain's scalp eight times.
"At the break, India must have fancied their chances of drawing level, but when you lose three wickets in the first ten overs, including Virat's, you are always playing catchup. Tim Southee's dismissal of Virat was an example of New Zealand's smartness in working out and sticking to game plans. Even though he was physically suffering, Southee kept at it. He set Virat up with a series of away swingers, then brought one back in to sneak it through the gate, a fantastic piece of bowling," Laxman wrote.
Shreyas Iyer played his part until he reached 52, his second ODI half-century when he lost his composure and tried to cut a Bennett delivery that was heading towards middle stump and succeeded only in nicking the ball through to the wicketkeeper.
"Shreyas Iyer, who batted well, and Kedar Jadhav will rue the strokes that led to their dismissal. Iyer's was probably the more damaging because he was well set and had just brought up his fifty when he needlessly tried to manufacture a stroke to a ball on his stumps. Jadhav, the most experienced middle-order batsman in this side who has been in such situations before, brought about his own downfall through his inability to rotate strike," Laxman added.
Navdeep Saini's 76-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja kept India in pursuit of a 274-run target.
"Ravindra Jadeja, who had a good outing with the ball too, rallied the lower order and found support from Shardul Thakur and the impressive Navdeep Saini, but Tom Latham used his inexperienced resources superbly. New Zealand sit deservedly on a winning series lead, but India have work to do going into Tuesday's dead rubber," Laxman signed off.