India vs New Zealand 2023
IND VS NZ: Five Best knocks from India vs New Zealand ODI clashes
India VS New Zealand ODI series will start on 18th January.
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.
4 Sachin Tendulkar 186* (150), Hyderabad, 1999
Sachin Tendulkar (Source: Twitter)
Sachin Tendulkar in the 90s was a force to be reckoned with as bowlers all around the world were wary of his mastery. It was against New Zealand only that Tendulkar opened for the first time in ODI cricket and the rest as they say is history. The kiwis once again faced Tendulkar at the peak of his powers during the second ODI in Hyderabad in 1999.
India were batting first and lost their opener Sourav Ganguly in the second over with the score on 10. From there onwards, it was a complete Dravid and Tendulkar show, who together put up a massive 331-run stand for the second wicket in 278 balls which was the highest partnership in ODIs at that time. (a record which stood for 16 years). Tendulkar scored a magnificent 186 off 150 balls with 20 fours and 3 sixes to his name. It was his highest ODI score for 10 years. Courtesy of Dravid and Tendulkar’s knocks, India posted a massive 376 on the board and won the match by 174 runs.
3 Yusuf Pathan 123* (96), Bengaluru, 2010
Yusuf Pathan (Source: Twitter)
India had already won the five-match series by 3-0 and Kiwis were playing to save themselves from a whitewash in the fourth ODI. It looked like their fortunes will finally change as they posted a massive 315 runs on the board in the fourth ODI. In reply, India were reeling at 108/4 after 19.3 overs.
In walked Yusuf Pathan with India requiring 208 runs in 183 balls for victory. Pathan, who was not known for building an innings until then, showed great maturity and built partnerships with Rohit Sharma and Saurabh Tiwary to take India closer to the target. In the process, he also brought up his maiden ODI hundred and helped India win the match with 7 balls to spare. Pathan remained unbeaten on 123 off 96 balls with 7 fours and 7 sixes as India went 4-0 up in the series. The ‘Men-in-Blue’ further won the fifth ODI and completed a 5-0 whitewash of New Zealand.
2 Mohammad Azharuddin 108(65), Vadodra, 1998
Mohammad Azharuddin (Source: Twitter)
It was the fourth ODI of the five-match series which India had already won. New Zealand finished the first innings on 278/3 in 50 overs. It was their then highest total against India in ODIs. In reply, India were in all sorts of trouble at 118/4 in the 29th over.
In walked, Mohammad Azharuddin and played one of the greatest knocks ever in ODI history while chasing. India needed 161 to win off 120 balls as Azharuddin launched an onslaught on the kiwi bowlers. He scored the then fastest ever ODI hundred in 62 balls and finished his innings on an unbeaten 108 off 65 balls with the help of 10 fours and 3 sixes.
He got great support from Ajay Sharma who scored 50 off 36 balls as India won the match by two wickets and 17 balls to spare.
1 Chris Cairns 102(113), Knockout Cup final, Nairobi, 2000
Chris Cairns (Source: Twitter)
It was the second edition of the knockout cup and India and New Zealand were locking horns in the final. India posted 264/6 batting first in the all-important game courtesy of a century by captain Sourav Ganguly. In reply, New Zealand were 132/5 in 23.2 overs as India smelled their second major title victory. However, Chris Cairns had other ideas as he was involved in a marvellous partnership of 122 for the sixth wicket along with Chris Harris which left them just 11 runs away from a win in 9 balls.
Cairns held his nerve and took his team over the line with two balls to spare. He remained unbeaten on 102 off 113 balls with the help of 8 fours and two sixes as New Zealand got their hands on their first-ever major trophy.
