India vs New Zealand | I had score of 300 par in mind after losing toss, reveals Virat Kohli

After registering a brilliant 2-1 series win in Australia, the Men in Blue have got off to a great start in New Zealand as well with an easy eight-wicket win. Powered by a half-century by Shikhar Dhawan, the Indian side chased down the revised target of 156 inside 35 overs after a terrific combined bowling effort by Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal. 

Williamson had won the toss and asked India to field first and during the post-match presentation, Kohli revealed that he had thought that the Kiwis will get to a score close to 300.

“It was one of our most balanced performances. With the ball, couldn't have asked for anything better. When I lost the toss, I thought a score of about 300 par but the bowlers were brilliant. To get them out for 150-odd on this pitch was brilliant,” said the Indian captain. 

Shami was adjudged Man of the Match for his lethal bowling from the very beginning of the game. The pacer wrecked havoc as he cleaned up both the openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro with only 18 runs on the board. Meanwhile, India went into the game with both the wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal while Ravindra Jadeja had to sit out and both Yadav and Chahal also played an important part, picking up four and two wickets respectively, to bowl the Kiwis out for a paltry score of 157.

“Belief in his (Shami) abilities is key and as he said, the fast bowling unit is extremely confident of knocking any team out. The lines and lengths bowled by the spinners were brilliant because the pitch only slowed down in the second half and they were really good,” Kohli explained. 

When asked about Shikhar Dhawan’s batting today, Kohli said, “Really important innings for Shikhar and we spoke during the sun break that he needed to finish the game to get some momentum. He is a dangerous player when in rhythm. (Whether he's experienced a sun strike break before) Never in my life, this rule wasn't there in 2014 and I actually got out in a similar situation.”

For the Black Caps, it was only their skipper Kane Williamson who did well with the bat scoring 64 off 81 deliveries in the first game. Ross Taylor, however, tried to give some support to his captain but he was undone by a Chahal delivery. They kept on losing wickets at regular intervals which ensured them getting bowled out for a low score in the first of the five-match series. 

“Certainly wasn't our best effort. India, we expected them to be good and they really were on top of the game. The surface wasn't as traditional as we thought it to be. India bowled well, particularly the lengths hit by their slower bowlers were really good,” Williamson said during the post-match presentation.  

“Their whole bowling unit contributed well and they need credit for that. We also did well with the ball, showed enough intent and will hope to take those things forward.”