IND vs NZ Man of the Match today 1st ODI: Who won Man of the Match today India vs New Zealand Hyderabad ODI?

During the first ODI of New Zealand’s tour of India 2023 in Hyderabad, India beat New Zealand by 12 runs in a crunch high-scoring encounter. With close to 700 runs scored across almost 100 overs, each penny spent by fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was worth due to the closeness of the contest.

Chasing a 350-run target, New Zealand were provided with a brisk start by opening batter Finn Allen (40). Known for his attacking instincts, Allen justified his reputation by hitting seven fours and a six at a strike rate of 102.56. However, a major part of the second powerplay witnessed the visitors scoring 61/5 in 16 overs to nullify all progress made by Allen.

Captain Tom Latham’s (24) dismissal in the 29th over reduced the Kiwis to 131/6 but less did anyone had guessed at that point in time that all-rounders Michael Bracewell (140) and Mitchell Santner (57) would put together a game-changing 102-ball 162-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Bracewell, in particular, announced his arrival in India in grand style on the back of hitting as many as 12 fours and 10 eye-catching sixes at a strike rate of 179.48. With the Indian bowlers seeming to be clueless against Bracewell, the match went down to the wire before Shardul Thakur (2/54) pinned the left-handed batter in front of the stumps when New Zealand needed 13 runs off five balls.

IND vs NZ Man of the Match today

Irrespective of the result, Bracewell would have surely won a match award for his hard-hitting knock had there not been a double centurion on the winning side. Needless to say, India batter Shubman Gill was adjudged the Player of the Match for scoring a career-best 208 (149) with the help of 19 fours and nine sixes.

Eighth cricketer to score an ODI double century, Gill’s third ODI century saw him becoming the youngest batter to touch the 200-run mark in this format. Furthermore, a breakout innings in international cricket also powered Gill to become the joint second-fastest cricketer to reach 1,000 ODI runs.

“I was waiting eagerly to go out and do what I want to do. Sometimes when the bowler is on top, you need to make them feel pressure. Need to avoid dot balls, show some intent and hit hard into the gaps. Wasn’t really thinking of 200 but once when I hit [two] sixes in the 47th over, I did feel that I could [score a double century],” Gill told Star Sports during the post-match presentation ceremony.