2017 ICC Champions Trophy: Watch: Virat Kohli Signs Autograph For Fans After Win Over New Zealand
May 29, 2017 at 11:14 AM
Leaving behind a forgettable outing in the Indian Premier League where his side Royal Challengers Bangalore crashed out of the tournament at the group stage, Virat Kohli got back to what he does best-winning matches for Team India.
The India skipper, on Sunday (May 28), led from the front, scoring a half-century to steer the Men in Blue to a clinical victory over New Zealand in the first warm-up game ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. The reigning Champions Trophy champions defeated the New Zealand by 45 runs (via Duckworth-Lewis Method) to start the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 campaign on a positive note.
India’s bowlers hit the ground running right from the word go, not allowing the Kiwi batsmen to settle down and as a result, the Black Caps were bowled out for a paltry 189 in the 39th over. Mohammed Shami, who was playing his first 50-over game in the blue jersey after a long gap of two years, rocked New Zealand’s top-order by dismissing Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson and Neil Broom cheaply to finish with figures of 3 for 47 in 8 overs.
Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah also looked in good form and produced disciplined efforts. Bhuvneshwar also picked up three wickets while Umesh got one. The spin duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja also looked in good form and picked up 1 and 2 wickets respectively.
With the Indians Pacers in prime form, none of the Kiwi batsmen, barring Luke Ronchi (66) and James Neesham (46*), could cross 15.
In reply, India did not enjoy a good start with Tim Southee sending back Ajinkya Rahane for only 7 but Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli put their side on the path to a comfortable victory with a 68-run stand before the former was dismissed for 40. India looked in a slight spot of bother when Dinesh Karthik departed without opening his account but Kohli along with MS Dhoni steadied the ship with an unbeaten partnership of 25 runs before the rain arrived and ended the match.
The India captain, who also did not have a good IPL with the bat, remained unbeaten on 52 off 55 balls while Dhoni was batting on 17 off 21 balls when the match ended.
The thumping win was the best possible start India could have got ahead of the tournament and Kohli looked in good spirits after the match, The 28-year old was seen signing the autographs for the fans from the dressing-room balcony.
🇮🇳 vs 🇳🇿 #CT17 warm-up match – After India won on D/L, the skipper @imVkohli obliged the fans #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/ITrepEkSqq
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 28, 2017
India’s next and last warm-up game is against Bangladesh on May 30 before the Virat Kohli-led side begins its title defence against Pakistan on June 4.