"Odi Odi Ba" (come running)—words that streamed in during the telecast of the third ODI match between India and New Zealand must have pleased cricket buffs in Karnataka no end, as two players from the state—K.L. Rahul and Manish Pandey—conversed in Kannada on the field.
The on-field microphone recorded and aired the conversation between Rahul and Pandey during a crucial period of the final ODI at Mount Maunganui, which India lost by five wickets.
Words like "Bartheera" (will you come), "Odi Odi Ba" (come running), "Beda Beda" (no no) and "Ba ba" (come)," were loud enough not to ignore, and Kannadigas the world over must have been as pleased as Punch.
Rahul slammed 112 and put on 107 runs with Manish Pandey (42) for the fifth wicket to help India score 296 for seven after being put into bat.
Pandey did his schooling in Bengaluru whereas Rahul's family hails from Tumakuru in the state.
The latter did his higher education from Jain University here.
New Zealand completed a 3-0 sweep at Mount Maunganui by winning the final ODI, scoring 300 for five in 47.1 overs.
