The five match ODI series is over as a contest after just three games and that is not a result that many would have predicted at the start. Given the fact that New Zealand have had the better of bilateral contests in recent times and also the fact that they are a good all-round side fittingly ranked No 3 in the world who would have expected the Indians to roll over them in such an emphatic manner?
Granted that the Indian team is purring like a well-oiled machine of late and that they are No 2 in the ICC rankings New Zealand had the home advantage. Also a cursory glance at the composition of both sides on the eve of the series did give the impression that they were evenly matched and the result would be close, was the general refrain.
So how has it come to a stage when New Zealand are 0-3 down and in line for a 0-5 drubbing? Plainly put it is the batting that has let the team down. New Zealand have two of the best batsmen in the world in Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor and with the able support they have the Kiwis looked good enough to combat the Indian bowling and run up competitive totals. What we have actually seen is that not once have they lasted the full 50 overs while being dismissed for totals of 157, 234 and 243. These totals were never going to bother the strong Indian line-up and sure enough they have romped home by eight wickets, 90 runs and seven wickets.
The batsmen have totally failed against wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. Even after three matches they are not able to fathom their bag of tricks. The duo has taken 14 wickets so far and more important they seemed to have gained the psychological advantage. To add to their woes Mohammed Shami has struck a purple patch and so there has been little respite for the beleaguered batsmen. The New Zealand bowling too has been a letdown but this has been camouflaged by the utter failure of the batsmen.
For the Indians it has been a tale of runaway successes as the batsmen and bowlers have made merry. The visitors who have lost just nine wickets in the three matches will no doubt press on for a 5-0 verdict and at the moment so superior are the Indians that they might not even miss Virat Kohli who has been rested for the last two ODIs. The encouraging thing from the Indian viewpoint is that this probably opens the way for the entry of the highly talented Shubman Gill of whom the skipper has spoken of in glowing terms.