Overview:
According to Gavaskar, the final match brings added pressure on India, ruling out experiments and keeping players like Yashasvi Jaiswal on the sidelines
Former skipper Sunil Gavaskar admitted he was surprised by the ease with which New Zealand seized control in the Rajkot ODI, effectively challenging India’s tactical flexibility ahead of the series decider.
“I didn’t expect New Zealand to finish the chase so comfortably. Going into their innings, there was a sense that India would be able to exploit the sluggish surface,” Sunil Gavaskar said on JioHotstar’s Amul Cricket Live.
“Given how effectively New Zealand’s bowlers made use of the surface, there was an expectation that India could cap the chase at roughly 260–270, which would have made the contest fairly comfortable,” he added.
Gavaskar lauded the calm assurance with which Daryl Mitchell and Will Young put together a decisive 162-run stand, a partnership that steadily wrested control of the contest away from India.
“They demonstrated that even a total close to 300 can be overhauled by spending time at the crease first, and then trusting your shot selection and quick singles,” he mentioned.
According to Gavaskar, the final match brings added pressure on India, ruling out experiments and keeping players like Yashasvi Jaiswal on the sidelines, something that could have changed had the series result been confirmed.
“if had they come out on top, it would have allowed India some flexibility to try a few options, including handing chances to players who haven’t featured yet, with someone like Yashasvi Jaiswal also getting an opportunity. All of that could have been on the table, but that option is gone now. They can’t afford risks and must field their strongest XI once more,” he concluded.