2nd ODI vs NZ today
Hamilton: He stood tall with a sparkling hundred before India self-destructed in the opening match against New Zealand and vice-captain Virat Kohli said his fellow batsmen will have to produce a more “responsible” performance for the side to stage a comeback here on Wednesday.
The number three batsman hit his 18th ODI hundred in the first match of the series at Napier on Sunday. However, it wasn’t good enough to win the match for India as the visitors lost by 24 runs, surrendering a 1-0 lead.
“It would have been better if we had won but it has been a positive start for us and I am sure that going forward in this series, we will bat more responsibly and get into good positions,” he Kohli said ahead of the second match here.
Personally, Kohli was happy with the way he performed in the game.
“It felt very good batting in the last match. The good thing is that we got time to prepare, so mentally I was in the right space,” he said.
“We practised for about five days before the series started and it really helped me to set up my plans and play according to the conditions and the sort of bowling that we are going to be facing from New Zealand throughout the series.
“I got a lot of time to visualise and it was a very good feeling that I was able to execute my plans,” Kohli added.
It was Kohli’s 12th hundred while chasing in the ODIs and on previous 11 occasions, he has been able to take his team across the finish line.
“While chasing, you know how many runs you need to get and that is something I have always taken as a positive,” he said, explaining his mindset.
Meanwhile, Kiwi star batsman Ross Taylor feels India have a good chance to bounce back in the second game as conditions are more likely to favour the visitors.
“It was a great start for us, a great all-round team performance on Sunday. We all performed our roles exceptionally well and carried our form from the West Indies series, especially the T20s,” said Taylor.
“But India are a very good side and their whole team has got a balance to it. Being the number one team in the world in ODIs, I am sure they will come back in the series,” he explained.
“Hamilton is the slowest wicket we have. So it will be a bit more to their liking. We have two matches here. The wicket plays low compared to the bouncy Napier wicket.
“But we know the conditions better and we have played here a couple times this season. So hopefully we can play accordingly,” he added, stressing about the conditions at Seddon Park. (PTI)