
India vs New Zealand: ODI series defeat not something very serious to ponder about - Yuzvendra Chahal
India have been so consistent in the last five years that the ODI defeats against New Zealand is not worrying, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal said on Tuesday, playing down the rare series-whitewash the Black Caps inflicted on them. The Kiwis won the third ODI by five wickets to complete a 3-0 clean sweep. “Overall, if you see it is just the fourth or fifth series loss in the last 4-5 years. The other team is also here to play. You cannot win every match. We have won one series, lost the other, so it is not something too serious to ponder over,” Chahal said at the post match press conference.
He said the youngsters will learn a lot from the experience of playing in New Zealand. “Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal came into the side, so youngsters got to play outside India. It is not easy to play in New Zealand. But overall if we see, it is just an ODI series. We did win the T20 series 5-0, first time, that’s a positive for us as well,” added Chahal.
Also read: Virat Kohli points finger at fielding for India’s 3-0 loss, but is that the real reason?
KL Rahul scored his fourth ODI hundred while Shreyas Iyer also scored a half-century to propel India to 296-7. Chahal appreciated their efforts. “You can see the confidence in them. They are 25-26 years old and batting with maturity. They understand the situation well. It is not easy to bat in the middle overs especially when the spinners are bowling. Rahul has also batted up the order at times. So, it shows the maturity that he knows what the team needs,” he said.
Chahal was all praise for the hosts but admitted fielding is a concern for India. “They have played quite extraordinarily in this series. So we need to appreciate that. Poor fielding happens at times. Once in 10 series it happens, we have time until the next ODI series. We have seen what are the shortcomings and we have enough time to work on it before the next series,” he said.
When asked why he and Kuldeep Yadav have not played together since the World Cup, he said, “Ravindra Jadeja is playing extraordinarily well, whether it is batting or bowling or fielding. So, I play half the matches and Kuldeep plays half the matches.”
Also read: Kane Williamson hails ‘outstanding’ New Zealand performance after series win
“Main motive is to do what is best for the team. In Asia Cup all three of us have played together as well. If wickets allow that, maybe all of us will play together again.” The leg spinner did finish with 3-47 in his ten overs, and his regular strikes created a chance for India to win. He bowled Martin Guptill with a beauty, but was taken off the attack every time he took a wicket. Chahal defended it as a ploy.
“Guptill dismissal was one of my best deliveries. Before that I was getting a lot of drift as well and hit their pads. I came from an angle. I didn’t know it would turn so much but I was bowling in my strong areas.
“Short spell was part of our plan. Jadeja also has to bowl and we are only two spinners. So our effort is to take the wickets and when I got it, the idea was to save 2-3 overs for the end and make chances for taking wickets,” he explained.
Chahal said playing eight limited-overs matches in a span of 22 days after a hectic home season was not a factor in their defeat. “The main exertion happened in T20s. We didn’t care much about jetlag etc., and got on the park to play. We gave 100 per cent in every game. We are professional cricketers so we didn’t think much about it,” Chahal signed off.

PCB's medical chief submits resignation to chairman Mani after PSL postponement

Dimuth Karunaratne returns as Sri Lanka name Test squad for West Indies series

Lock, stock and three spinning barrels as India crush England 3-1
- New world No.1 India put England out of their misery on Day 3 of the final Test to win the series 3-1 and qualify for the World Test Championship.

Kohli surpasses Waugh after England series win, matches Ponting's record

Now break the bubble & come home, tweets Ashwin's wife Prithi after India's win

India women's WC preparation to finally begin with home series against SA

Virat Kohli names India's 'most bankable player over the years'

IPL 2021 to begin on April 9, says BCCI source

Ravichandran Ashwin creates unique record with 32 wickets in England series
- Ashwin, who picked up his 30th five wicket haul in England’s second innings to once again play a crucial role in India’s thumping win by innings and 25 runs in the fourth Test, finished the four-match series with 32 scalps to his name.

India vs England, 4th Test, Day 3: Action through images

'Never thought of Test Championship': Ravi Shastri after India's 3-1 series win

Axar picks most wickets by Indian in debut series involving 4 matches

Cricketing fraternity lauds Gavaskar on 50th anniversary of Test debut
- Here’s how the cricketing fraternity wished Sunil Gavaskar on the 50th anniversary of his Test debut

India to face New Zealand in World Test Championship final at Lord's
