India Test great Ajinkya Rahane indirectly blamed the BCCI management for the Shubman Gill-led side's three-match ODI series defeat against New Zealand. Rahane reckons that making too many changes in the ODI setup might have cost India their series against the BlackCaps.
Rahane on India's ODI series defeat against New Zealand
Notably, Team India suffered their first-ever ODI series loss to New Zealand on home soil after they failed to chase 338, falling short of 41 runs despite Virat Kohli’s valiant 124 runs and Harshit Rana’s maiden ODI half-century.
“There will be tough questions. India lost 5 ODIs in the last 9. Reason is because there are too many changes. That’s why I said, you are looking at the World Cup where players need that security, they need that clarity from the management. If you are going to play those certain players in that format, it’s always about clarity. There will be tough questions which is very natural I feel. Especially from the fans. Indian cricket is so connected. Everyone wants Indian cricket to do well, India to win match, India to win series. Especially in India. Playing against New Zealand which was New Zealand’s A or B team. Due respect to all the players but expectations were there. We all thought India would win easily, probably 3-0. But the way New Zealand played has been amazing,” Rahane said on Cricbuzz.
Rahane's advice to Indian management
The 37-year-old star suggested Gautam Gambhir & Co. to find the right players and give clarity to players, and to feature on a stable combination without too many tweaks.
“There will be tough questions but I feel from an Indian team’s point of view, they just need to follow the process. Just see which are the players you are going to back because 6 months’ down the line you are going to play ODI cricket again. You have time. After (NZ) T20Is, there’s nothing at all. Probably after IPL, you are going to play ODIs. So it’s always about finding your right players and right combinations and just back them,” he added.
India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI
After opting to bowl, India off to a good start as the hosts picked up two early wickets, but centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137*) and Glenn Phillips (106) took NZ to 337/8. While chasing, India also failed to get a good start after a batting collapse. Virat Kohli tried to shift the momentum of the game with his century and a 99-run stand with lower-order batter Harshit Rana, who also scored his maiden ODI fifty. However, their efforts went in vain as New Zealand defeated India by 41 runs.