Overview:
Following the defeat, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the former India skipper, expressed admiration for Kohli's never-say-die attitude.
Virat Kohli was once again the focal point for India in the chase against New Zealand in Indore. He scored a brilliant 124 while chasing 338, but India fell short. Kohli was magnificent despite the defeat, with only brief support from Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, both of whom scored half-centuries.
The defeat saw India suffer a 1-2 loss in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, marking the Kiwis’ first-ever ODI series win on Indian soil. It was a team failure, with skipper Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Rohit Sharma failing to build partnerships to support Kohli.
Following the defeat, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the former India skipper, expressed admiration for Kohli’s never-say-die attitude, while also taking a dig at Ravindra Jadeja for his lack of intensity on the field.
“Ravindra Jadeja was a key player in the 2023 World Cup, but it’s clear that he doesn’t show the same level of enthusiasm now. Even Kuldeep Yadav is being hit for runs. I feel for Virat Kohli. How many times can he single-handedly carry the team? If Kohli is the only one scoring, how many matches can India actually win?” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
“India is relying on just one player to win matches. To be fair, New Zealand doesn’t have a top-tier bowling attack, but look at how well Jayden Lennox performed: 10 overs, 42 runs, and two key wickets. Foulkes was expensive but took wickets, and Kyle Jamieson delivered a lethal ball to get rid of Shubman Gill. Kristian Clarke is also bowling well,” he added.
Jadeja had a tough series against New Zealand, conceding 41 runs from six overs without taking a wicket in the third ODI. His batting scores of 4, 27, and 12 have raised questions about his future in the team.