The first ODI between India and New Zealand took place in Vadodara. India won the match by 4 wickets, and Virat Kohli’s performance has been praised by everyone. However, fans were outraged by Arshdeep Singh’s omission from the playing eleven. Many believed that Arshdeep should have been included in the squad instead of Prasidh Krishna.

After the match captain Shubman Gill said why Arshdeep Singh was not in the playing XI

Amid these questions, Shubman Gill has now broken his silence and revealed the real reason for not including Arshdeep Singh in the team. After the victory, captain Shubman Gill explained the reason for not including Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI at the presentation ceremony.

He said, “Rotation was the real reason behind this. Arshdeep Singh performed well in the last series, and Siraj was not a part of it. We want to give everyone a chance, as we are preparing for the World Cup and there won’t be many ODIs ahead.” Gill expressed his delight at India’s 4-wicket win.

He said, “It felt good to contribute to the chase. The most important thing is to stay in the present. As a sportsperson, you should focus on what’s in front of you and what’s required in the moment. This helps you cope with the ups and downs. That’s what I do. The way Virat Kohli was hitting the ball made batting seem so easy. On a surface like this, where it wasn’t easy to start, he made things look effortless.”

Batting first, New Zealand set a target of 301 runs. In reply, India won in 49 overs with 4 wickets in hand. Shubman Gill scored 56, Virat Kohli 93, and Shreyas Iyer 49. Virat was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.