Overview
- India leads the ODI series 1–0 after a four-wicket win in Vadodara, chasing 301 with six balls to spare.
- Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, called New Zealand highly analytically driven and said he would pay to observe their planning.
- He judged New Zealand the more impressive side on the day and said India did not play their best cricket.
- Ashwin highlighted Virat Kohli’s 93 and KL Rahul’s late unbeaten finish, as well as Harshit Rana’s contributions with ball and bat.
- New Zealand’s performance came despite absences of Kane Williamson, Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra, with injured bowlers such as Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and William O’Rourke also unavailable, and the teams now turn to the second ODI in Rajkot on January 14.