India rout NZ, claim top spot in ICC ODI Rankings
India routed New Zealand 3-0 in the three-match ODI series after winning the final match in Indore. The Men in Blue defended 385/9 with a concerted bowling effort. Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets each. A double-century stand between centurions Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill laid the foundation of India's win. India are now the top-ranked side in the ICC ODI Rankings.
The summary of 3rd ODI
India compiled a mammoth 385/9 after New Zealand put them in to bat. Rohit and Gill shared a double-century partnership as India were 212/0 after 26 overs. Virat Kohli (36), Ishan Kishan (17), and Suryakumar Yadav (14) failed to maximize, while a counter-attack by Hardik and Shardul took India to 385. Besides, Devon Conway was the lone warrior in NZ's innings (295/10).
Seventh consecutive ODI series win at home
India have finally won a bilateral ODI series after losing in Bangladesh and New Zealand. Besides, the Men in Blue have clinched their seventh consecutive ODI series win at home. They last lost an ODI series in home conditions in March 2019 (2-3 to Australia). Overall, India and New Zealand have clashed in 116 ODIs, with the former winning 58 of them.
India have aced the first Powerplay this season
India's Powerplay 1 scores in home ODIs this season: 75/0 vs SL (Guwahati), 67/3 vs SL (Kolkata), 75/0 vs SL (Trivandrum), 48/0 vs NZ (Hyderabad), 52/0 vs NZ (Raipur), and 82/0 vs NZ (Indore).
Another fruitful opening stand!
Rohit and Gill came out all guns blazing on a flat wicket in Indore. They kept punishing the weak Kiwi bowling attack. The duo added over 200 runs within 25 overs to fuel India's innings. Notably, Rohit and Gill have registered five 50+ partnerships while opening together six times. Their opening stands read 143, 33, 95, 60, 72, and 212.
Highest opening partnership against New Zealand in ODIs
India brought up the 200-run mark in the 25th over. Rohit and Gill eventually added 212 runs before the former departed. This is now the highest opening partnership against New Zealand in ODIs. They broke the record of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir (201* in 2009, Hamilton). Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga shared a 201-run stand in 2006, Napier.
Rohit slams his 30th ODI century, equals Ponting
Rohit slammed his 30th century in ODIs. The senior opener reached the three-figure mark in the 26th over. Interestingly, Rohit has slammed his first ODI ton since January 2020. Besides, this is his first international century since September 2021. Rohit has now equaled legend Ricky Ponting in terms of ODI tons. The duo is only behind Sachin Tendulkar (49) and Virat Kohli (46).
Rohit, Gill break these records
Gill continues his exploits in international cricket. He raced to his fourth ODI century in the same over. The youngster smashed a record-breaking double-century in the series opener before scoring a match-winning 40* in Raipur. He now owns three 100+ scores in his last four ODI innings. Gill also became the first Indian to have scored 300+ runs in a three-match bilateral series.
Rohit, Gill break these records
Rohit has become the first Indian batter to have struck five sixes in the first 15 overs of an ODI inning. He touched the 50-run mark off 41 balls in the 14th over. He smoked a six off Mitchell Santner to complete his fifty. Gill raced to four ODI centuries in 21 innings, the fewest an Indian batter has taken.
Highest ODI partnership run rate by Indian opening pair
Rohit and Gill now have the highest ODI partnership run rate (8.10) by an Indian opening pair (minimum 25 overs). They surpassed Sourav Ganguly and Sehwag, who recorded a run rate of 7.35 against the West Indies in 2002.
Gill equals Babar Azam's record
Gill has been adjudged the Player of the Series for scoring the most runs. He slammed 360 runs from three matches. Gill now has the joint-most runs by a batter in a three-match ODI series, having equaled the record of Pakistan's Babar Azam. The latter smashed 360 runs, including three successive tons against West Indies in 2016.
A measured knock by Conway
Conway slammed his third century in ODI cricket. The left-handed batter reached the three-figure mark even though the others kept on departing. Conway, who recorded scores of 10 and 7 in the first two ODIs, has bounced back in style. Notably, he was New Zealand's highest run-scorer in international cricket in 2022.
Five consecutive 300+ totals batting first
The Indian batters have been on a roll in the ongoing season. Their last five ODI innings batting first: 409/8 vs Bangladesh (Chattogram), 373/7 vs SL (Guwahati), 390/5 vs SL (Trivandrum), 349/8 vs NZ (Hyderabad), and 385/9 vs NZ (Indore).
India top the ICC ODI Rankings
As stated, India have become the new number one in the ICC ODI Rankings. They now top the rankings with 114 rating points. England hold the second spot with 113 rating points, while Australia have moved to the third spot with 112 rating points. India, who also top the ICC T20I Rankings, can reach the summit in Tests too by winning the Border-Gavaskar series.
