SportsPosted at: Nov 4 2026 5:26PM


Tailor-made for these conditions: Gill backs Kamboj after impressive outing in first ODI

New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) India skipper Shubman Gill was impressed by Anshul Kamboj’s performance in the first ODI against New Zealand in Auckland on Wednesday, describing the young pacer as "tailor-made" for conditions in the Antipodes.
Kamboj made good use of the bounce and movement on offer at Eden Park, returning figures of 2 for 22 from his 10 overs to help India bowl New Zealand out for 185. India went on to win the rain-affected contest by five wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
“Anshul is the kind of a bowler... I think he's tailor-made for these conditions, always nippy, trying to seam the ball, and good with the old ball,” Gill said during the post-match presentation.
“We felt when there's not much happening from the wicket, he can create that extra bounce and with his pace and the way both of them bowled tonight was really magnificent to watch," he added.
Kamboj was part of an impressive effort from India's seamers, with Arshdeep Singh leading the attack with 4 for 70 and Gurnoor Brar claiming 3 for 44. Gill also credited the fielding effort, highlighting Rohit Sharma's direct-hit run-out and Virat Kohli's outstanding one-handed catch.
“We were very good with the bowling and our fielding was also really good. That run out by Rohit bhai, I think changed the momentum of the game," Gill said.
"It was really that partnership as even in India also those two batted really well. Overall, a very good team performance for us.”
The Indian captain acknowledged that repeated interruptions made batting difficult, particularly for players who had settled at the crease. “It's never easy when you are set and then it rains and the wicket gets a little bit quick, it gets a little bit more nippy after the rain," he said.
“We were just trying to play our normal cricket. The way we batted it made things a lot easier for us.”
Key was just consistent length and line: Kamboj
Kamboj said his focus was on maintaining his line and length rather than making major adjustments to suit the pitch.
“The key was just consistent length and line, not thinking about how the wicket is behaving, just the basic plan, bowling on right lines and right areas,” he said.
“The wobble seam ball was working very well, so I was using it again and again. (I have been) just working on lengths and good lines, and just looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the batsmen and just working on that,” he added.
He also felt the extra bounce at Eden Park did not require any specific change to his bowling lengths.
“No, it doesn't matter, because I also get a good amount of bounce off the wicket. So, it's like it's only about the length at which I am bowling, just focusing on that," he said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner conceded that his side had not anticipated the amount of bounce on offer and struggled to adjust quickly enough.
“The pitch probably bounced and it was probably a little bit faster than we kind of expected at Eden Park. We just probably didn't adapt as quickly as we could, and with some good bowling from India as well," he said.
“When you try to fight the bounce at Eden Park, it can be quite hard. The way they used it a little bit more and, Shreyas (Iyer) was trying to go more fine with the shorter balls. After the rain it kind of skidded on nicely," Santner added.
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Tags: #Tailor-made for these conditions: Gill backs Kamboj after impressive outing in first ODI
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