After clean-sweeping Sri Lanka by 3-0, the ‘Men-in-Blue’ will next face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting on 18th January at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. The rivalry between IND VS NZ has gotten intense in recent years with New Zealand always getting the better of India in major tournaments. The Blackcaps recently beat India by 1-0 at their home in November.
The two teams have faced each other in many memorable matches over the years and the players from both sides have put on some marvellous performances. As another ODI series between the two cricketing giants is drawing closer, let’s see some top five knocks from historical clashes between the two sides.
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Check out the five best ODI knocks from India vs New Zealand clashes.
5 Virender Sehwag 125* (74), Hamilton, 2009
Virender Sehwag (Source: Twitter)
India were 2-0 ahead in the five-match series in 2009 after the first three games with one match getting washed out. In the fourth ODI, New Zealand batted first and put 270/5 in 47 overs in a rain-affected match. The total wasn’t an easy one to chase by no means, however, India had the most destructive opener of the world in their team in Virender Sehwag who made a complete mockery of the target.
Sehwag was seen in his beast mode as he scored the then fastest hundred by an Indian and reached the three-figure mark in just 60 balls. India were 201-0 after 23.3 overs with 69 runs more required for victory when the rain came to save New Zealand from further assault by Sehwag. As the rain didn’t stop, India were awarded the match as per the DL method and won by a massive margin of 84 runs. Sehwag’s knock helped India win their first-ever ODI series in New Zealand as he remained unbeaten on 125 off 74 with the help of 14 fours and 6 sixes.
