Intense India in 'auto mode'

Satisfied with a run of rich form from his team that continued yesterday with them sealing the ODI series against New Zealand with a seven-wicket win in the third ODI in Wellington, India skipper Virat Kohli said that they were in 'auto mode' going into the 2019 World Cup.

India, who clinically chased down a 247-run target in 43 overs, are runaway favourites for the 50-over global tournament after dominating series wins in Australia and New Zealand.

Kohli, who will head back to India and miss the remaining two ODIs and the ensuing T20I series, said that there aren't too many areas of concern for him at the moment.

It put India 3-0 up and world player of the year Kohli said with the series wrapped up early it was time for him to step aside for the remaining two matches and the following Twenty20 series.

"I couldn't have asked for a better performance after the first two clinical performances and just the relentlessness of the side is something that really pleases me," he said at the post-match press conference.

Kohli's 60 off 74 deliveries and a 113-run partnership with Rohit Sharma formed the backbone of India's run chase. Sharma top-scored with 62 while Ambati Rayudu was unbeaten on 40 and Dinesh Karthik on 38.

“If you look at the last five games [two in Australia and three here], I have said that number four is a position that we are looking to solidify but when Rayudu starts playing like that, you start feeling more confident about the batting lineup,” Kohli said.

“I don't think after looking at the first three games, we have a lot to worry about,” the skipper exuded confidence.

Asked if the intensity will drop in his absence, the skipper replied: “Not at all. Now things are more or less running in auto mode for us.

“I don't need to throw myself around and ask others to do the same. When these two guys [Karthik and Rayudu] were finishing the game for us, we were all sitting together and clapping for every run."

SCORES IN BRIEF

NEW ZEALAND: 243 all out in 49 overs (Williamson 28, Taylor 93, Latham 51; Kumar 2-46, Shami 3-41, Chahal 2-51, Pandya 2-45)

INDIA: 245 for 3 in 43 overs (Sharma 62, Dhawan 28, Kohli 60, Rayudu 40 not out, Karthik 38 not out; Boult 2-40)

Results: India won by 7 wickets and lead the five-match series 3-0.

Player-of-the-match: Mohammed Shami.