The Men in Blue outplayed the New Zealand side by 12 runs in the first ODI at Hyderabad on Wednesday. Post India's win, skipper Rohit Sharma accepted that his team "slipped up with the ball" as Kiwi batters Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner played really well and stitched a crucial partnership in the middle. They completely dominated the Indian bowlers but then Md Siraj got the breakthrough after a lot of slogging.
"To be honest, the way he (Bracewell) was batting and the way it came on to the bat nicely, it was clean ball-striking. We knew that if we bowl well, we would be okay unless we really slipped up with the ball. Unfortunately, that's what happened. I did say at the toss that I would like to see us challenge ourselves, not quite the situation I expected but that's how it is," said Rohit during a post-match presentation.
The skipper also praised Shubman Gill, who registered an explosive double ton, and speedster Mohammed Siraj. "He (Gill) is going really well. The form he was in, we wanted to make use of it and that's why we backed him in the SL series. Free-flowing batter and it is quite exciting to watch. Siraj has been brilliant, not just in this game but in the red-ball, T20 format and now ODIs. Really good to see what he does with the ball. Executing what he wants to do and he is very clear about his plans. Which is how it should be," added Rohit.
Talking about the match, India scored 349/8 in 50 overs. Gill starred with the bat by playing a knock of 208 runs. Skipper Rohit Sharma (34), Suryakumar Yadav (31), and Hardik Pandya (28) also contributed with the bat.
Daryl Mitchell scalped 2/30 and Henry Shipley took two wickets, while Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner and Mitchell Santner picked a wicket each for the Kiwis.
While chasing 351, Indian bowlers dominated Kiwis in the beginning as they were 131/6, but then Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner built a seventh-wicket stand and smashed the Indian bowlers all around the park. Bracewell got his second ODI century and Santner also scored a half-century.
Mohammed Siraj then helped India by dismissing Santner for 57 as he broke the 162-run partnership. India won the match by 12 runs and took a lead of 1-0 in the series.