Virat Kohli hails India’s series win in New Zealand, calls it ‘team effort’

India has made it three out of four as far as conquering the SENA countries is concerned in one-day internationals. On Monday, the Men in Blue hammered New Zealand in the third of the five matches of the series to go 3-0 up. This is the second time that India have beaten the Black Caps on their territory in a ODI series and captain Virat Kohli couldn’t hide his joy. Kohli will now return home and skip the remaining part of the series that includes two ODIs and three T20Is.

India made all the three wins they have had over the Kiwis quite easy in this series, winning by 8 wickets, 90 runs and 7 wickets, respectively. Both of India’s batters and bowlers looked in excellent touch and gave the home time no chance whatsoever even though it is ranked just a place below India in the ICC’s ODI table.

This is India’s fifth win in six series (bilateral and multilateral combined) since their 5-1 thumping of South Africa early last year. They won the Asian Cup, beat the Windies 3-1 at home and Australia 2-1 Down Under. The only team to beat India in this time is England who won a three-match ODI series last year 2-1 at home.

Kohli was in decent touch in the series

Kohli, who scored 60 in the third match to ensure India overhauled the target of 244 comfortably, hailed the victory as “clinical performance” and also credited “team effort” for making it happen. Kohli though didn’t get a hundred in the series, he scored 45 and 43 in the last two games to make significant contribution to the team’s victories. Pacer Mohammed Shami was adjudged the man of the match in the first and third games in Napier and Mount Maunganui.

Here’s Kohli’s tweet

Kohli also praised youngster Shubman Gill, who is with the Indian squad in New Zealand, for his batting skills and indicated that the latter could make his debut since he himself was set to skip the remainder of the series. He also said that at 19, he wasn’t even the 10 per cent of what he saw in Shubman’s batting.

“Amazing, three clinical games from us, relentlessness of the side pleasing. Haven’t had a break for a while, hectic Australia tour and now this. We are three-nil up so I can relax a little. Some outstanding talent coming through. Saw Shubman batting in the nets, I wasn’t even 10 percent of that at 19,” Kohli said after the game.

The fourth ODI will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on January 31.

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