India head coach Ravi Shastri showered high praise on Ambati Rayudu after he top-scored for the Men in Blue with 90 runs in some trying circumstances in the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand in Wellington.
After getting all-out on 92 runs in fourth ODI, India were outplayed by the hosts. The Kiwis defeated them by eight wickets in Hamilton. India got off to a disastrous start in fifth and final one-dayer as well but they went on to score 252 runs and won the game by 35 runs to seal the series 4-1.
“This was the best game of the five matches. I thought we really competed well from 18/4 to win the game. Rayudu, in particular. He batted like a millionaire in the last game (Rayudu scored a duck). He was told to apply himself as he did in the middle today. It’s very commendable,” Shastri told official broadcasters Star Sports after the match.