India defeated New Zealand in the third ODI at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, completing a 3-0 sweep of the series. The match was highlighted by strong performances from India’s Shubman Gill, who scored 112 off 78 balls, and Rohit Sharma, who scored 101 off 85 balls.
Hardik Pandya also contributed with a vital fifty, scoring 54 off 38 balls. These efforts helped India achieve a massive 385/9 in the allotted 50 overs.
Sharma hit 9 fours and 6 sixes during his innings, showing his skill at finding the gaps in the field and punishing the loose balls.
He also demonstrated his ability to hit powerful shots and clear the boundaries, particularly when he hit a six against Mitchell Santner to bring up his half-century in 41 deliveries.
Sharma was eventually dismissed when he was cleaned up by Bracewell.
It was Rohit’s first century in three years, and Gill’s third in four innings.
Rohit went past Sanath Jayasuriya’s 270 sixes to reach No. 3 on the all-time list, Gill equalled the record for most runs while playing three or fewer matches in an ODI series: 360
Virat Kohli also looked in fine touch, played a cameo (27-ball 36) and also strung together a partnership of 38 with Ishan Kishan (17) before a mix-up saw the latter being run out.
When Duffy removed Kohli, the track slowed down a touch as New Zealand’s into-the-wicket bowling, alongside variations in pace resulted in the wickets of Suryakumar Yadav (14) and Washington Sundar (9), who once again wasted their opportunities
On the New Zealand side, Devon Conway was the top scorer with 138 off 100 balls.
He and Henry Nicholls formed a solid second-wicket partnership, adding 106 runs together. Conway was able to hit a range of shots, including drives, scoops, cuts, and slashes, and he never allowed the Indian bowlers to get into a rhythm.
He hit 12 fours and 8 sixes during his innings, and he was able to bring up his century in 74 balls. Despite Conway’s strong performance, New Zealand were unable to keep up with the run rate and eventually lost the match by 90 runs.
The team was bowled out for 295 in 41.2 overs, with Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav being the most successful bowlers for India.
Conway’s wicket was the turning point. He was the 6th wicket to fall at 230 when he was caught by Rohit Sharma off the bowling of Umran Malik.
The win propelled India to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, pushing England to second place and New Zealand to fourth.
This was in part due to the strong bowling efforts of Shardul Thakur, who took three wickets, and Kuldeep Yadav, who took three wickets.
Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, and Umran Malik also contributed with crucial wickets.
India 385/9 in 50 overs (Shubman Gill 112, Rohit Sharma 101; Blair Tickner 3-76, Jacob Duffy 3-100) beat New Zealand 295 all out in 41.2 overs (Devon Conway 138, Henry Nicholls 42; Shardul Thakur 3-45, Kuldeep Yadav 3-62) by 90 runs
