Hardik Pandya tested Martin Guptill with many a seaming delivery on or around his off stump.
It is not very often that India's seamers corner all the glory. But Sunday was a different ball game when debutant Hardik Pandya and Umesh Yadav struck some serious blows to New Zealand in the first ODI to take India 1-0 up in the five-match series.
Pandya had a memorable debut as he engaged Kiwi opener Martin Guptill in an engrossing battle right from the go. The 23-year-old seamer tested an experienced shorter format opener with many a seaming delivery on or around his off stump. And, his skipper behind the stumps was the one who was seen time and again cheering for his young all-rounder.
"Hardik is deceptive, he bowls big and he has got movement and can get purchase off the pitch. And that's why I wanted to give him a chance to exploit the new ball," Mahendra Singh Dhoni said after the victory.
On the question of Pandya sharing the new ball with Yadav, Dhoni pointed at Jasprit Bumrah's middle overs exploits as a reason to do so. "It was a fantastic performance from the fast bowlers. We had no clue it would help them.
Hardik exploited the good length and Umesh is somebody who has been quite quick consistently, he has gone from fit to one of the fittest. Bumrah is very good in the middle overs, he can get me wickets then and also at death so wanted to save his overs, I can use him any time," he reasoned.
Man of the match in his debut game, Pandya attributed to his fine rhythm and not focusing on bowling quick. "On a debut, getting the man of the match is special. This moment I will cherish in my life," said the all-rounder, adding: "I was nervous a bit, but I bowled a lot in Australia and the domestic season. I wasn't looking to bowl fast, wanted to bowl with rhythm. On this wicket, I was focusing on a Test match length, a good length."
On the other hand, Kiwi skipper agreed that the first 10 overs changed the game. "We had to weather the storm a little bit, the first 10 overs they bowled really well and there were some soft dismissals, we lost too many wickets too early. The pitch was a little up and down with sideways movement. India were too good and we were below par in all areas, we need to step up," said Kane Williamson.
The visiting skipper also raised concerns over his team's below par performance in the first game. "We were below par in all areas, we need to step that up. We're a tough unit, so we need to stick together and have to play our best cricket to beat India."
He particularly mentioned the fact that India are big chasers and his team needs to be putting a big score on the board to put hosts under any kind of pressure in the remaining games. "India were too good. They have always been a good chasing side and they showed it today."
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