Auckland: Anshul Kamboj’s match-winning spell in the first ODI against New Zealand has done more than win India a game — it has given head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill a genuine selection headache ahead of the second ODI in Wellington on Saturday.
Kamboj, named player of the match in Auckland, took 2 for 22 as India bowled New Zealand out for 185 and won by five wickets under the DLS method. It was, by his own standards, a breakthrough performance. Wednesday was perhaps the only occasion when he was not an injury replacement or rushed into the side, and it showed in his bowling: hard lengths, control, and the wicket of New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan called him the biggest positive of the match.
He was not alone. Arshdeep Singh led the attack with four wickets, surprising batters with bouncers and short balls, while Gurnoor Brar, the quickest of the trio at around 145 kph, took 3 for 44 and explained afterwards that the plan had been to exploit the bounce on offer at Eden Park. “The atmosphere here is very good for bowling,” Brar said in a video released by the BCCI. Brar, who has now taken 17 wickets in 10 ODIs, removed Tim Seifert and Tom Latham in a spell that set the tone.
The significance is the context. India produced this performance without Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, and a year out from the World Cup in South Africa, Gambhir will be hoping for more of the same from his young quicks. Kamboj’s spell, in particular, answered the criticism that followed his Test debut in England earlier this year, when his pace was questioned.
Now comes the selection call. Siraj, who has been playing for India A, is available again for Wellington, and the temptation will be to bring him straight back. But former India batter Ajinkya Rahane, previewing the second ODI, urged the team to give Auqib Nabi another match instead. Nabi went wicketless for 33 from six overs in Auckland, but Rahane argued the youngster deserves a longer run. “Siraj has been playing. Auqib Nabi deserves a chance, and if they back him for another game, his confidence will go up,” Rahane said.
India must also cope without Nitish Kumar Reddy, ruled out of the remainder of the series, though Rahane played down the impact, pointing to the balance of the side that won in Auckland. Gill and KL Rahul are also not part of the squad for the last two ODIs, with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan in line to come in. The second ODI in Wellington will show whether Auckland was a one-off — or the day India’s next pace generation announced itself.
