5 hits and misses from the India-New Zealand ODI series

The ODI series turned out to be in stark contrast to the lop-sided Test series that had seen the Kiwis being completely outplayed in all three matches. A rejuvenated side found form against the hosts in the limited-overs, pushing the Indian batting line-up that looked too over-dependent on Virat Kohli. Yet, the final match showed that the Kiwis were still undercooked, unable to wrest the initiative when it mattered the most.

Here are the top five performers as well as five flops from the series:

HIT –Virat Kohli

With 354 runs in five matches, Virat Kohli was the top run-getter from either side by a clear distance, with Tom Latham being the second best at 244 runs. The Indian Test team captain hit form with an unbeaten 85 in the first ODI, and followed it up with a sublime 154 at Mohali, his second highest score in ODIs, as well as his 26th ton in the format.

The overdependence on him put additional pressure on the Delhi-lad to perform in every match, with the team losing games in which he couldn’t rack up a huge score. His 65 in the final ODI proved to be a vital innings on a sluggish pitch.

MISS – Ross Taylor

The biggest disappointment for the Kiwis throughout their stay in the country has been the pathetic form of their most experienced player. Uncertain foot movement against pacers, the inability to handle spinners and a loss in focus, all resulted in the 32-year old’s sorry run. It didn’t help that Brendon McCullum’s tirade at Taylor’s captaincy made news . He also had a horror time in the field, dropping important catches.

HIT – Kane Williamson

Williamson celebrates his century in the second ODI (Image credits: BCCI)

The Kiwi captain looked off-color in whites, hardly being able to produce the kind of performances that make him stand out as one of the top batsmen today. His footwork against spinners looked uncertain, he couldn’t sustain his stay for long, and a bout of viral fever made things all the more difficult for him.

He looked more confident and focussed in the ODI series, scoring a sublime century in the second ODI even though he received little support from his teammates.

MISS – Rohit Sharma

Given the kind of record that he boasts in ODIs, more was expected out of Rohit Sharma than the one-fifty plus score that was able to manage in the five matches. Before his 70 in the final ODI, he had scores of 11, 13, 14 and 15 in the series.

He looked uneasy against the bowling of his Mumbai Indians teammate, Tim Southee, playing with very little feet movement and poking at deliveries outside off. Before the last ODI, he was just unable to go beyond slow starts. The result was a total of 123 runs at an average of 24.60.

HIT- Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra celebrates the wicket of BJ Watling (Image credits: BCCI)

The veteran leg spinner got a major lifeline in his ODI career when Ravichandran Ashwin was ruled out of the series. Having made his debut in 2003, he took the longest to reach 50 wickets in ODIs.

Bowling in the classic leg-spinner’s mould, Mishra has managed to extract a lot of turn from the drab pitches, troubling the Kiwi batsmen with the odd ball that turns in for the right-hander. He took a total of 15 wickets in the series, the most by anyone from both sides. He looked especially lethal in the decider, turning the ball sharply and employing his variationswith telling effect.

MISS – Martin Guptill

Martin Guptil walks back after being dismissed in the fourth ODI (Image Credits: BCCI

Another matchwinner who fell flat when it came to scoring runs, Guptill looked completely at sea in the Test series, having the additional pressure to try and cement his spot.

In the ODIs, he was expected to take the centre stage and score some quick runs in the powerplays. Instead, he seemed to be in a mental rut, unable to bring his free-flowing game to the fore at all. He managed only one-fifty plus score in the whole series, repeatedly playing down the wrong line and getting dismissed, especially to Umesh Yadav.

HIT – Kedar Jadhav

Jadhav lines up to take a catch (Image credits: BCCI)

India’s surprise package didn’t really set the stage on fire with the bat, but was a sensation with the ball, picking crucial wickets in the middle overs with his off-spin. He had little experience of bowling at the domestic level, but MS Dhoni, with a knack of tapping talent from nowhere, employed Kedar Jadhav when the Kiwi batsmen looked set for big scores. The result was decisive wickets from the 31-year old, who ended fourth in the list of wicket-takers in the series with six scalps to his name.

MISS – Corey Anderson

Anderson after getting dismissed in the third ODI (Image credits: BCCI)

The hard-hitting all-rounder came an absolute cropper in the ODI series, managing a mere 31 runs and picking up no wickets in the four matches he featured in. More was expected out of the former world-record holder for the fastest ODI ton, but the 25-year old looked like a lost child in a fair, completely out of place against the Indian spin attack.

A batting average of 7.75 is an abysmal showing for the talented cricketer, and Anderson will have to go back to the drawing board and regain his lost touch and dented confidence.

HIT- Tom Latham

The left-hander has been a rock for the Kiwis at the top of the order. The level-headed batsman possesses a confident stride and an eye for finding gaps, attributes that make him a highly effective batsman in the initial overs. While his opening partner, Martin Guptill misfired in both Tests and ODIs, Latham scored the second most number of runs by a batsman from either side.

He consistently gave the Kiwis a good start holding on end and piling up runs. He might not have an aggressive style of play, but can pick and choose his shots, using the sweep to good effect against the spinners, a ploy he used in the Tests as well.

MISS – Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey playing a cross-batted stroke (Image credits: BCCI)

Team India need to groom a finisher, especially with MS Dhoni’s career being in its twilight. Manish Pandey has long been touted as a middle order batsman with the ability to score runs at a quick pace. He doesn't possess a strong technique, but makes it up with amazing hand-eye coordination and an enterprising range of strokes.Yet, the manner in which he threw away quick starts raised serious concerns over his temperament to perform on the biggest stage. A century in Australia earlier this year did raise his stakes, but with a number of youngsters snapping at his heels, he needs a better showing than the 76 runs he managed in 5 innings.