 "Fans are yet again after Gautam Gambhir following India's dismal performance in the ODI series against New Zealand. AP")
Fans trained their guns towards head coach Gautam Gambhir once again as India lost their first ever ODI series at home to New Zealand. The Men in Blue lost to BlackCaps by 41 runs in the decider to lose the series 2-1 on Sunday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Highlights: India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI
Virat Kohli waged a sensational lone battle for India but his 124 went in vain as India were bowled out for 296 in 46 overs. New Zealand had ridden on tons from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips to put up a big first-innings score of 337/8 in 50 overs and then their bowlers did well to stop India well short.
Mitchell stars as NZ make history
New Zealand were asked to bat first in Indore and they lost their openers within seven balls. Soon they lost their third wicket as well but then came the game-changing partnership of 229 runs between Mitchell and Phillips.
Indian spinners proved to be ineffective once again and New Zealand managed to set up a 338-run target for India.
Apart from Kohli, none of the top-order Indian batters could score much and that left India in trouble. Nitish Kumar Reddy then assisted Kohli with his maiden ODI half-century but his wicket was followed by Ravindra Jadeja’s dismissal and that almost ended the game before Harshit Rana turned things around.
Rana scored 52 from 43 balls to make things interesting while Kohli too upped the ante and reached his hundred. However, the last four Indian wickets fell within 19 runs and India lost the game.
Mitchell who scored tons in the second and third matches, got the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series awards.
Calls to remove Gambhir flood Internet
Gambhir who has overseen some disastrous results as the head coach of the Indian team saw another unwanted record being added to his CV. Fans have been calling for Gambhir’s sacking since the Test series loss to South Africa and the series loss to New Zealand now further adds to his headaches.
That New Zealand won the series with most of their first choice ODI players not available makes the loss even more embarrassing for the team management who fielded an almost full-strength side.