India batsman KL Rahul and New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham were engaged with an amusing exchange via social media after the Kiwis won the third ODI at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday. Courtesy of this success, New Zealand retaliated for their defeat in the T20I series as they secured the ODI series 3-0. Team India endured their first ODI whitewash in 31 years (minimum three matches).
Everything began during the 20th over of the Indian innings when Rahul clipped the Kiwi pacer towards mid-on for a quick single. During his run-up, Neesham blocked Rahul’s way, and the batsman needed to alter his direction.
The minute transformed into a conversation between the two cricketers which proceeded for some time. Even though there were no warmed exchanges, the two players kept on enjoying verbal banter on the field till Neesham came back to his position to bowl the next delivery.
After the finish of the match, Neeshan tongue in cheek posted a picture via web-based networking media and his post read: ”Paper, scissors, rock?”
Rahul observed this post and replied: ”Let’s settle this in April. See u in a bit.”
The motivation behind why Rahul requested that it be settled in Aprill is because Neesham has gained at his base cost of Rs 50 lakh by Kings XI Punjab for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rahul will be leading KXIP without previous captain Ravichandran Ashwin, who was traded to Delhi Capitals. In the wake of securing horns a grueling three-match series, both Rahul and Neesham will wear the same team’s jersey in the money-rich alliance.
Rahul slammed his fourth ODI hundred to take India’s aggregate to 296/7 out of 50 overs. Rahul made 112 runs (from 113 balls), including nine fours and two sixes, as he protected India from 62/3 in the thirteenth over after being sent in to bat. He put on 100 runs with Shreyas Iyer (62 off 63 balls) for the fourth wicket, and later on another 107 runs with Manish Pandey (42 off 48 balls) for the fifth wicket.
Be that as it may, it was insufficient to spare India from a 3-0 whitewash as the Kiwis were helped by a splendid batting performance to pull off the pursuit with five wickets close by. The Kiwis were looking certain so far in their pursuit with Martin Guptill (66) and Henry Nicholls (80) and putting on a 106-run stand. In any case, wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took three wickets to bring India back in the game.
Colin de Grandhomme (58) and Tom Latham (32), however, agreed with their side past the end goal with an unbeaten 80-run partnership.