After the end of the fifth and final game of the five-match ODI series between the hosts New Zealand and the visitors India, the Indian head coach Ravi Shastri spoke about the World Cup squad. He also praised Ambati Rayudu for playing a mature knock in the Wellington ODI.
After the completion of the ODI series in New Zealand, India has now only five competitive ODI matches before the upcoming World Cup. The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is less than four months away to begin as it will start on 30th May. Before that big tournament, India has just a five-match home ODI series against Australia that will be played between 2nd March to 13th March.
The Indian national cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri still believes that they need to look at one or two places before the World Cup. However, he also added that the team has mostly shaped up for the upcoming World Cup.
Ravi Shastri told in the Star Sports show, “I would think so. There will be still one or two places you will look at. In general, the team more or less picks itself. What you want is people not to lose their form with five games left before the World Cup. You in fact should pick every opportunity you get and make the most of it.”
The Wellington ODI
On Sunday (3 February), India won the final ODI of the series against the hosts New Zealand and also took the ODI series trophy by leading the series 4-1. After dominating in the first three ODIs of the series, India suffered a disastrous defeat in the fourth ODI at Hamilton. In that game, New Zealand bundled out the visiting side for just 92 runs.
In the fifth ODI at Wellington, India was once again at the struggling situation as they were battling on 18/4. From that situation, Ambati Rayudu played a great mature knock of 90 runs off 113 balls with the help eight boundaries and four over-boundaries.
Also, the other middle-order batsmen played the vital roles which helped the team to manage the total of 252 runs. Vijay Shankar (45 runs), Kedar Jadhav (34 runs) and Hardik Pandya (45 off 22 balls) were those middle-order batsmen in that innings.
However, the 252 runs were enough for India to win that game as the visiting side won the game by 35 runs. They bundled out the host side for 217 runs.
Ambati Rayudu batted like a millionaire in Wellington ODI: Ravi Shastri
After that game, Ravi Shastri praised the Player of the Match winner Ambati Rayudu. The Indian head coach claimed that the no.4 batsman batted like a millionaire in that game.
Ravi Shastri said, “And that is why I like the way Rayudu played today. This was the best game of the five matches, because from 18 for 4 to win the game, the way we did and Rayudu in particular. He batted like a millionaire in the last game.”
India will now play the three-match T20I series in this tour. Later, at home, India will play the three-match T20I series and five-match ODI series against Australia, and it will be probably their last international assignment before the upcoming World Cup.