Virat Kohli on Sun strike stopping play: The Indian captain was vocal about the unusual manner in which the match was stopped.
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During the first ODI of the ongoing India’s tour of New Zealand at Napier, India defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets to go 1-0 up in the series. A clinical bowling performance followed by a 91-run partnership for the second wicket between opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and India captain Virat Kohli sealed the chase for India.
After New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat, New Zealand ended up scoring 157-10 in 38 overs. Williamson, who came in to bat at No. 3, top-scored for his team scoring his 36th ODI half-century, 64 (81), with the help of seven fours.
With bowling figures of 10-1-39-4, Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for India. Other than him, fast bowler and ‘Man of the Match’ Mohammad Shami (6-2-19-3) and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (10-2-43-2) starred with the ball.
In the second innings, Indian batsmen never looked in discomfort despite a couple of breaks in their innings. Dhawan, who scored his 26th ODI half-century, top-scored for India scoring 75* (103) with the help of six fours. Having scored a half-century after nine innings, Dhawan would be delighted to be back among the runs.
Speaking during the post-match presentation, Kohli disclosed that dismissing the hosts for 150-odd was ‘brilliant’. “It was one of our most balanced performances. With the ball, couldn’t have asked for anything better. When I lost the toss, I thought a score of about 300 par but the bowlers were brilliant. To get them out for 150-odd on this pitch was brilliant,” he said.
Kohli also lauded the efforts of Shami, who set the tone for India by sending back the Kiwi opening batsmen. The Indian captain said his ‘belief’ in himself aided him in winning a ‘Man of the Match’ award after four years.
“Belief in his [Shami] abilities is key and as he said, the fast bowling unit is extremely confident of knocking any team out. The lines and lengths bowled by the spinners were brilliant because the pitch only slowed down in the second half and they were really good,” Kohli was quoted as saying.
“Really important innings for Shikhar and we spoke during the sun break that he needed to finish the game to get some momentum. He is a dangerous player when in rhythm,” Kohli said of runs coming out of Dhawan’s bat.
The first ODI will be remembered for a ‘Sun Strike‘ stopping play for the first time in international cricket. Being asked about the same, Kohli was similar in his views to New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor saying that he hadn’t seen such an interruption earlier in his life.
“Never in my life, this rule wasn’t there in 2014 and I actually got out in a similar situation,” Kohli concluded as referring to one of his dismissals from India’s tour of New Zealand in 2014.
