Team India will play New Zealand in a three-match ODI series at home from January 11 to January 18. This will be India’s first international series of the New Year. The matches will be played in three different cities across India.

The first ODI will be held at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, in Vadodara. The second match will take place at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 14. The third and final ODI will be played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on January 18.

India and New Zealand have played 120 ODI matches so far. India has won 62 matches, while New Zealand have won 50. One match ended in a tie, and seven matches ended with no result. In home conditions, India has won 31 out of 40 ODIs against New Zealand.

Indian bowlers have given some strong performances against New Zealand in home ODIs. In this feature, we look at four Indian bowlers who have taken five-wicket hauls against the Kiwis in India.

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1. Mohammad Shami (7/57 and 5/54)
Senior fast bowler Mohammad Shami has taken two five-wicket hauls against New Zealand in home ODIs. He produced an outstanding spell of 7/57 in 9.5 overs during the first semifinal of the 2023 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In that match, Shami dismissed Devon Conway (13), Rachin Ravindra (13), Kane Williamson (69), Tom Latham (0), and Daryl Mitchell with a brilliant bowling performance.

Shami also claimed figures of 5/54 in Dharamsala during the league stage of the same World Cup. Bowling first, he removed Will Young (17) and later dismissed Rachin Ravindra (75) with a well-disguised slower ball before cleaning up the lower order. India restricted New Zealand to 273 and successfully chased the target in 48 overs, with Virat Kohli scoring 95 runs.

2. Kris Srikkanth (5/27 and 5/32)
Former India opener Kris Srikkanth is a surprising name on this list. An occasional off-spinner, he took 25 wickets in 146 ODI matches. Both of his five-wicket hauls came during the home series against New Zealand in December 1988, helping him finish his ODI career with a bowling average of 25.64.

Srikkanth took 5/27 from seven overs in the first ODI at Visakhapatnam. He dismissed Ken Rutherford (67), Ian Smith (6), Trevor Franklin (21), John Bracewell (12), and Chris Kuggeleijn (4) as India restricted New Zealand to 196 for nine. He then scored 70 runs off 87 balls to help India win the match by four wickets. In the third ODI at Indore, Srikkanth picked up 5/32 from six overs as New Zealand were held to 169 for nine while chasing 223.

3. Amit Mishra (5/18)
Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra delivered a superb performance with figures of 5/18 from six overs against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam in October 2016. It was the fifth and final ODI of the series. Mishra bowled two maiden overs as New Zealand were bowled out for 79 in 23.1 overs, chasing India’s total of 269 for six.

Mishra dismissed Ross Taylor (19), BJ Watling (0), James Neesham (3), Tim Southee (0), and Ish Sodhi (0). His accurate and attacking bowling helped India win the match by 190 runs and clinch the series 3–2.

4. Manoj Prabhakar (5/33)
Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar took 5/33 from 10 overs against New Zealand in Amritsar in November 1995. The match was the second ODI of the six-game series. India bowled out New Zealand for 145 in 44.1 overs and chased down the target in 43.4 overs to win by six wickets and level the series 1–1.

Prabhakar made early breakthroughs by dismissing Mark Greatbatch (2) and Martin Crowe (2). He also removed Shane Thomson (14), Lee Germon (9), and Dion Nash (0) to complete his five-wicket haul. For his match-winning performance, Prabhakar was named Player of the Match.

The heated moment between Virat Kohli and Afghanistan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, and then Virat Kohli vs Gautam Gambhir, appeared as top talking points during the IPL 2023 season. After the match, Virat and Naveen-ul-Haq were engaged in a heated situation. Later, Gautam Gambhir, who was then the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), also got involved in the matter.

After a couple of years, the on-field moment is still fresh among fans. After years, former India cricketer Amit Mishra, who was in LSG in the 2023 campaign. In a recent YouTube conversation, Mishra claimed that the controversial moment after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs LSG match was because of Virat Kohli. According to the former cricketer, Kohli said something to the Afghan bowler, after which the situation got intense. Mishra believes that there was no need to restart the argument.

"The issue started after the match was over, during the handshake, when Virat Kohli again abused Naveen-ul-Haq, which escalated the situation. Gambhir stepped in, upset that despite winning, there was no need to restart the argument. I asked him to let it go, but things went out of control," Amit Mishra said.

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Amit Mishra blames Virat Kohli for the match after incident

Taking a step further, Mishra criticised Kohli's act regarding the controversial incident. The former spinner compared Kohli's behaviour with Indian cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni and said, "Repeated disrespect isn’t good for the game; senior players like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni never behaved this way."

Later, during international matches, both Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq looked in terms, maintaining the spirit of the game. Naveen met Kohli in Delhi during Afghanistan's ODI World Cup match against India in October 2023, and the duo surprised the fans by hugging out their differences.

The former Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, has earned massive praise around the world for his newly built fitness as he has cleared the doubts about his place in the ODI squad, heading into the upcoming World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Questions were raised despite his outstanding leadership and batting for the Champions Trophy 2025 triumph.

The former Indian leg spinner, Amit Mishra, has now strongly backed the Indian opening batter and challenged his perceptions around the body type and athleticism. The former captain used his break from cricket to take matters into his hands and shed close to 10 kg, and he looked visibly leaner and sharper recently. 

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“Rohit Sharma has made a comeback and is fit. He was fit before as well. I have played with him. People called him heavy, but I never felt that he was slow on the field or could not score runs. It was not like he would bat and go out; he would field as well and was active. Everyone has their opinion and perspective.” Mishra expressed on MensXP.

Amit Mishra praises Rohit Sharma’s fitness comeback

Mishra also elaborated on fitness, besides stressing that everybody is different. He also requested the players to focus on natural, sustainable routines- maintain proper diet, hard work, good sleep, and practice- rather than making the vital transformation only for appearances.

“Everybody's body is not the same. There is a difference. The type is different. Fitness is judged more on looks these days. To look lean. It is better to have a genuine body and maintain your fitness. Eat well, work hard, and you will stay fit. Take care of your diet and do things naturally. Don't be fit to just look fit.” The former Indian spinner addressed.

“There are many examples of those who made themselves look fit in a short time. I will not take names, but later they have faced many issues with their body. It is better to have good sleep, eat well, and do natural things. Go to the gym, it is good, but also for running, go out on the ground. You need to have that mindset.” Mishra concluded.

Veteran wrist-spinner Amit Mishra, who recently retired from all forms of cricket, looked back on a funny moment from his early days with the Indian team. Mishra, who made his international debut in 2003 against South Africa in Dhaka, recalled a lighthearted exchange with legendary pacer Javagal Srinath. Speaking in an exclusive interview with RevSportz, Mishra revealed how Srinath jokingly referred to him as a “desi boy.”

“Srinath was very helpful to me. I remember this one time when I entered the team, Srinath told me in his broken Hindi, ‘Aa gaya bhai desi chore. Laya kuch hamare liye? Ghee wagera (The desi boy has come. Got something for us? Like ghee).’ Everyone was very good to me,” Mishra recalled with a laugh. During his early years, he shared the dressing room with icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Sourav Ganguly.

When reflecting on his three-decade-long career, Mishra thanked seniors and captains for their support but also stated that he did not always get a fair deal being out of the team for long periods. Nevertheless, he still thanked his seniors and captains, with special mention of Sachin Tendulkar, who used to guide me on whistle while doing practice sessions.

Sachin’s guidance during The Oval stand

One of Mishra’s most memorable batting moments came during the fourth Test against England at The Oval in 2011. Promoted to number five as a nightwatchman, he joined Tendulkar at the crease with India struggling at 118/3. The pair went on to share an 84-run partnership, with Mishra scoring a career-best 84 off 141 balls while Tendulkar fell for 91. “First day went by and I was not out, and the second day, I went to Sachin Paaji and asked him how I was doing. He replied, saying: ‘Just play your normal game, normal shots, don’t think too much about what match it is or who is bowling to you… Just play it like you are playing domestic.’ So I followed his words and once the game started, he himself told me that he could see the confidence in me,” Mishra said.

Watch the video here

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“It was before lunch or maybe after that he again suggested something to me, and that was to take singles and doubles and not play shots against the spinners. The partnership started building and his guidance in between helped me the most,” he added. Mishra’s 84 remains the highest score by a nightwatchman for India in Test cricket. Across his career, he notched four Test half-centuries and an unbeaten double century in first-class cricket, alongside 17 fifties.

On the morning of September 04, India’s leg-spinner, Amit Mishra, announced his retirement from international cricket to end his 22-year-long career. He was excluded from the national side for five years after his debut in 2003, while the Delhi-born played his last clash for the Blue Brigade in 2016 against England in Bengaluru.

Mishra, who earned the incredible feat of celebrating three IPL hat-tricks for Delhi, Deccan Chargers, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, after dropping the news, looked back at the early struggles in his career. In white-ball cricket, he collected 80 wickets in 44 innings at an average of around 20 with two four-wicket hauls.

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“After my debut, there was a 5-year gap in my career. If it wasn't there, I could have played more matches. I made my debut in Bangladesh in a One-Day match in 2003. After that, there was a 5-year gap. I couldn't return to the Indian team in five years. I was performing and doing everything.” Mishra expressed during an interaction on NDTV.

Amit Mishra makes stunning revelation about his early struggle after announcing retirement

The veteran spinner, who bagged 174 wickets in 162 innings of the IPL at an average of under 28 and a strike rate of nearly 20 at an economy rate of 7.37, thanks to the bowling figure of four four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul at the best bowling figure of 5/17 in an inning.

“And I always proved what I was told. I focused on performing. Although, I was depressed for 1-1.5 years. I was angry. I was a little worried. But after 1-2 years, I talked to myself. I said, I want to play cricket. I am playing cricket. And I am performing. So, how can I enhance this?” Mishra addressed during the same discussion.

“What else can I add to my cricket? How can I improve my small performance? So, I started to pay attention to those things. I started talking to myself. I asked myself what improvements I have made. So, a person who loves cricket should never be depressed.” Amit Mishra concluded.

The series of Indian players retiring from international cricket continues as a member of the winning side of the Blue Brigade during the Champions Trophy 2025, Amit Mishra, has finally decided to call it a time on professional cricket after spending more than two decades of service to the sport. The 42-year-old made the massive announcement on September 04.

The successful career of the 42-year-old for India consisted of 40 Test innings, 34 ODIs, and 10 T20Is for the national side. In the longest format, he picked up 76 wickets at an average of 35.72 and a strike rate of 67.1, while in the 50-over format, he bagged 64 wickets at an average of under 24, thanks to two five-wicket hauls at the best of 6/48 in an inning.

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In the shortest format, the leg spinner picked 16 T20I wickets at an average of 15 and an economy rate of just 6.31. His last assignment for the Indian team came in 2017 during the Bengaluru T20I against England.

India’s 42-year-old leg spinner Amit Mishra retires from international cricket

Apart from his contribution to the Indian side, he was a massive part of the Haryana team in first-class cricket. In an overall 152 FC encounters, he collected 535 wickets at an average of under 30 and a strike rate of 57.6, claiming 21 five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figures of 6/66 in an innings.

In the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mishra ended as the eighth leading wicket-taker of the event. He grasped 174 wickets in 162 innings at an average of below 24 and a strike rate of 19.37 with an economy rate of 7.37, thanks to four four-wicket and one five-wicket haul at the best bowling figure of 5/17 in an innings. He also picked up three hat-tricks in the competition in 2008 for Delhi, in 2011 for Deccan Chargers, and in 2013 for SRH.

Mishra, who played for the Lucknow Super Giants in 2024 in what turned out to be his last season of the IPL, ended with one wicket in the solitary game featured. After retirement, he is expected to stay connected with the game in coaching, commentary, or mentoring the younger players.

Akash Deep did his job extremely well. He joined Yashasvi Jaiswal on Day 2 as a night watchman, and when he lost his wicket, Akash Deep registered his name in the record book. The cricketer hails from Bihar and is mainly known for his pace bowling abilities. Often he left out the bracket allocated for the all-rounders. But from today (August 2, 2025), opposition teams may dare to mark him only as a bowler. At The Oval, against England in the ongoing 5th match of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, he scored 66 off 94. But before Akash, there were multiple events when a night watchman did surprisingly well with the bat. 

Highest scores by a nightwatchman for India:

Amit Mishra 84 vs. ENG, 2011:

Amit Mishra, a spin bowling all-rounder, came close to getting a Test hundred as a night watchman. His partnership with Sachin Tendulkar emerged as the last hope for MS Dhoni's led team India against England at The Oval in August 2011. England at their home ground was top of their game with Ian Bell scoring 235 and Kevin Pietersen's 175. England registered 591/6d in the first innings and left India to struggle. In this match, Amit Mishra contributed a good amount of runs in both of the innings. During the first phase of the game, the all-rounder scored 43, and in the second innings, he bagged an 84-run knock before Graeme Swann bowled him out. After getting Mishra's wicket in the second innings, England cleared their path to winning the mace. Till today, Mishra's 84 is the highest run ever scored by a night watchman for India. 

𝗔𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽: 𝟲𝟲 𝘃𝘀 𝗘𝗡𝗚, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱:

A newly shaped team India travelled to England for the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy. After England took a 2-1 lead, followed by a draw at Old Trafford, the fifth and the last match of the series became a final-like encounter for Shubman Gill and Co. In the first innings of the game, India faced a batting collapse, which they had experienced multiple times before in the tournament. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep restricted England to only a 23-run lead.

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India got a sudden opportunity to shine on a green deck. Made the disappointed KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan's wickets fall in a short time duration. The day's play was about to end, so the Indian team management decided to send a night watchman in the form of Akash Deep to protect their top-tier batters on the rank. Out of anyone's expectations, Deep scored his maiden Test half-century and managed to drag it to 66. After Amit Mishra's 84, it was the second-highest score by an Indian night watchman. 

Amit Mishra 50 vs BAN, 2010:

This time, Amit Mishra's heroism came for a winning cause. In a Test match against Bangladesh in January 2010, Mishra scored a half century in the second innings at Chattogram. India won the match by 113 runs; Sachin Tendulkar was the man of the match for scoring an unbeaten 105 runs. Amit Mishra also could have won the award because of his all-round performance. Apart from scoring 50 off 70, he claimed 4 wickets also. Bangladesh, the home team, had to score 415 runs to win the match or protect wickets to at least get a draw. They did not manage to accomplish any of the tasks and allowed India to win the match. 

IPL has had 23 hat-tricks from 19 bowlers between 2008 - 2025, demonstrating that bowlers are still being remembered in a batsman's league. Amit Mishra leads the list of hat-tricks with three, and next is Yuvraj Singh with two hat-tricks. Yuzvendra Chahal made IPL history on April 30, 2025, as he picked up his second IPL hat-trick whilst playing for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium; this was the 23rd hat-trick in IPL.

While the IPL is branded as a batsman's league, bowlers have enjoyed their moment of fame, hat-tricks being some of the best achievements and producing indelible memories. All hat-tricks involve solid skill, accuracy, and game-determining situations. 

Also Read: WATCH: Yuzvendra Chahal picks up second IPL hat trick in IPL 2025

Lakshmipathy Balaji (2008) was the first IPL hat-trick (playing for Chennai Super Kings against Kings XI Punjab), registered in the final over of the match! The most recent hat-trick was in 2025 when Yuzvendra Chahal claimed three wickets against Chennai Super Kings. 

Veteran India spinner Amit Mishra has shared his views on Virat Kohli’s transformation after taking up the captaincy. Mishra, who played under Kohli’s leadership between 2015 and 2017, has seen a change in Kohli’s demeanour and he compared with that of Rohit Sharma. While saying that Kohli’s personality evolved with his role, Mishra added that Rohit is the same throughout his career.

However, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are considered as Indian cricket stalwarts who have dominated the batting for over a decade. Meanwhile, they both announced their retirements from the T20 format following India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite their on-field similarities, Mishra shared a stark difference in their off-field personalities, claiming to have a closer relationship with Rohit Sharma.

Amit Mishra shares his equations with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

“Not everyone to be very honest. I won’t lie. As a cricketer, I respect him a lot, but I don’t share the same equation with him as I used to. Why does Virat have less friends? His and Rohit’s natures are different. I’ll tell you the best thing about Rohit. When I met him the first day and when I meet him today, he is the same person. So will you relate to him more or with someone who changes according to situation?,” Amit Mishra said in a show by YouTuber Shubhankar Mishra.

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“I haven’t been part of the Indian team in years. Still when I meet Rohit during the IPL or any other event, he is always joking with me. I don’t need to think what he will think. We joke with each other. He is at the top but we still have maintained that rapport. He is the captain, won the World Cup and five IPL titles,” he further added.

Former Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra has shared the change in his relationship with Virat Kohli. Despite playing nine Test matches under Kohli’s captaincy, Mishra stated that their bond weakened over time, hinting at a near-complete breakdown in communication.

Yuvraj Singh’s experience with Virat Kohli is no different

Mishra’s experience was similar to Yuvraj Singh’s experience with Kohli’s transformation from a close friend to a distant player as well. Mishra added this change to a marked shift in Kohli’s demeanour following the captaincy and the successes as well.

“I have seen Virat change a lot. We had almost stopped talking. When you get fame and power, they think people are reaching out to them for a purpose. I was never one of those. I have known Cheeku since the time he was 14, when he used to eat Samosas, when he needed Pizza every night. But there is a huge difference in the Cheeku I knew and Virat Kohli the captain. Whenever he meets me, he is very respectful, but it’s obviously not the same anymore,” Mishra concluded.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a cricketing extravaganza and a platform where legendary cricketers showcase their skills. However, as time passes, cricketers inevitably face the prospect of bidding farewell to the field. The ongoing IPL tournament could be the last season of their career. In such a situation, if we talk about those 5 legendary players whose IPL 2024 could be the last IPL season, then their names are as follows-

1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (CSK)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, fondly known as ‘Captain Cool,’ has been a stalwart of Indian cricket and the IPL. However, at 42, Dhoni’s physical fitness has become a concern, exacerbated by recurring orthopedic issues. With speculation rife about his retirement, IPL 2024 could be the swansong for the former Chennai Super Kings captain. Under his leadership, CSK achieved enormous success in this league. CSK won the IPL title five times under his leadership. At the start of the season, Dhoni passed the baton of CSK leadership role to young batter Ruturaj Gaikwad.

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MS Dhoni entered the IPL fray in 2008, embarking on a journey that would cement his legacy as one of the greatest players in the tournament’s history. Over the years, Dhoni has graced the IPL stage with his exceptional batting prowess in 262 matches, amassing a staggering total of 5,218 runs.

With a remarkable batting average of 39.23, Dhoni has been a linchpin for his teams, often delivering match-winning performances. Among his many achievements in the IPL, Dhoni has registered an impressive tally of 24 half-centuries, with his highest individual score at an unbeaten 84 runs.

Dhoni’s ability to find the boundaries is evident from his impressive count of 360 fours and 251 sixes throughout his IPL career. His penchant for finishing matches in style has endeared him to cricket fans worldwide, earning him the moniker of ‘Captain Cool.’

2. Amit Mishra (LSG)

Amit Mishra, the seasoned leg-spinner representing Lucknow Super Giants, finds himself in a similar predicament as Dhoni. At 41 years old, Mishra’s playing opportunities and fitness concerns have dwindled. It’s unlikely that Mishra will feature prominently in future IPL seasons, making IPL 2024 a possible curtain call for the leg-spin maestro.

Amit Mishra made his IPL debut in 2008 and has been a prominent figure in the tournament. Throughout his 162-match career, Mishra has showcased his bowling prowess by claiming 174 wickets. With an impressive average of 23.84, Mishra has proven to be a formidable force in the IPL bowling lineup. He has maintained an economy rate of approximately 7.38 runs per over, demonstrating his ability to consistently contain batters while taking wickets.

Mishra’s best individual bowling performance in the IPL came with figures of 5/17, highlighting his match-winning capabilities with the ball. In the IPL Auction 2024, the Lucknow franchise secured Mishra’s services for Rs 50.00 Lac, recognizing his value as a seasoned spinner.

3. Wriddhiman Saha (GT)

Gujarat Titans wicket keeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha has had a distinguished career in Indian cricket. However, at 39 years old and with retirement from international cricket behind him, Saha’s IPL prospects seem bleak. His absence from domestic cricket further diminishes the likelihood of seeing him in the IPL beyond 2024.

Wriddhiman Saha entered the IPL arena in 2008, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey in the tournament. Throughout his IPL career, which spans 170 matches, Saha has consistently performed with the bat, amassing 2,934 runs. His batting average is a respectable 24.25, reflecting his ability to contribute consistently to his team’s success.

Saha’s IPL portfolio boasts one century and 13 half-centuries, with his highest individual score being an unbeaten 115 runs. His knack for scoring boundaries is evident from the impressive tally of 296 fours and 87 sixes that he has accumulated over the years.

In the IPL Auction 2024, the Gujarat franchise secured Saha’s services for Rs 1.90 Cr, recognizing his worth as a reliable wicketkeeper-batsman.

4. Dinesh Karthik (RCB)

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s dependable wicketkeeper-batsman, Dinesh Karthik, may appear fit on the field, but at 38, age catches up with even the most seasoned players. As he approaches 40, Karthik’s future in the IPL remains uncertain, with teams possibly preferring younger talent over experienced campaigners.

Dinesh Karthik stepped into the IPL arena in 2008, marking the beginning of a prolific career in the tournament. Over the years, Karthik has showcased his batting prowess in 254 IPL matches, accumulating 4,817 runs. With an impressive batting average of 26.61, Karthik has established himself as a dependable middle-order batsman in the IPL circuit.

Throughout his IPL journey, Karthik has notched up an impressive tally of 22 half-centuries, with his highest individual score standing at an unbeaten 97 runs. His ability to find boundaries is evident from the 464 fours and 160 sixes he registered in his IPL career.

5. Ishant Sharma (DC)

Delhi Capitals’ experienced fast bowler, Ishant Sharma, faces the dual challenge of age and fitness concerns. At 35, Sharma’s pace bowling prowess may be on the wane, compounded by potential fitness issues. With the demands of T20 cricket and younger talents emerging, IPL 2024 could mark the end of Sharma’s IPL journey.

Ishant Sharma entered the IPL arena in 2008, marking the commencement of his journey in the tournament. Over the years, Sharma has participated in 108 IPL matches, showcasing his bowling prowess on various occasions. With 89 wickets to his name, Sharma has proven to be a valuable asset for his teams in the IPL.

Sharma’s bowling statistics include an average of 34.93, with an economy rate of approximately 8.21 runs per over. His best individual bowling figures stand at an impressive 5/12, reflecting his ability to deliver match-winning performances when called upon.