The Rohit Sharma-led Team India destroyed New Zealand in the second One Day International (ODI) to win the high-scoring thriller at Hyderabad and grab a commanding lead over the visitors on Saturday. In the low-scoring game, Team India, led by Mohammed Shami, destroyed Tom Latham’s New Zealand to win the ODI series in Raipur. The third ODI between Team India under Rohit and the Black Caps is scheduled to be a dead rubber on Tuesday, and former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar has made an extraordinary revelation regarding the opposition.
The former Indian all-rounder believes that following the ODI series loss, it will be “near to impossible” for the Black Caps to upset Rohit and company at the 2023 World Cup, despite the fact that India has struggled against the Kiwis in ICC competitions. Regarding the recently concluded match between the 2019 World Cup semifinalist teams, pacer Shami recorded three dismissals, while Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar shared four wickets. As Latham-led New Zealand crumbled for a pitiful total of 108 in 34.3 overs at Raipur, pacer Shami also claimed three wickets.
“The way all the bowlers caused problems to the New Zealand batters, if New Zealand plays a knockout match against India in a big event, these mental scars will be in the players’ minds, that beating the Indian team is close to impossible. Such wins leave a long-term effect,” Bangar told Star Sports. Bangar’s remarks have come after India outplayed New Zealand in the 2nd ODI by 8 wickets to seal the white-ball series.
Indian skipper Rohit struck a stunning half-century to secure India’s comfortable victory over the Black Caps at Raipur, while pacer Shami provided the goods with the ball. “They will be extremely disappointed because the seamers troubled them and got them out. Whenever you talk about New Zealand cricket, you talk about seaming conditions, but to be in such a position in two consecutive matches means it is an area of concern,” Bangar added. Rohit-led Team will meet New Zealand in the third and final ODI at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Tuesday.