On the Ranchi surface, India was caught in a spin web. On Friday, they lost the first game by 21 runs.
As the team led by Hardik Pandya faces a must-win situation to level the three-match T20I series against New Zealand. India will need to step up their game on Sunday in Lucknow.
On the Ranchi surface, India was caught in a spin web, and on Friday. They lost the first game by 21 runs.
India’s poor bowling, particularly by the pace duo of Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik, was also highlighted in the defeat.
Arshdeep’s 27 runs in the final over, compared to Malik’s 16 runs in one over as a tearaway pacer. Put pressure on India’s batsmen while they chased.
He was smashed for three sixes and a boundary after that expensive over from the young left-arm quick.
The top three batsmen for India got off to a bad start, scoring just 15 runs. Washington Sundar said after the game that the hosts scored 155/9, which would have been a par score to defend on the wicket.
The India all-rounder stated, “150 would’ve been parred and we would have been very happy with it.”
However, skipper Pandya probably won’t use uncapped pace bowler Mukesh Kumar in the second T20I and will likely back Arshdeep to win.
Ishan Kishan and Deepak Hooda will be under scrutiny. Even though Shubman Gill, who has been in great form in the ODIs, has only played four T20Is and is still learning the nuances of the shortest format.
The two key batters, Ishan Kishan and Deepak Hooda will be the biggest concern. Kishan, who plays in the opening position, is nowhere near the ominous form he displayed when he scored a record-breaking double-century in an ODI match against Bangladesh in December.
Since then, Ishan has scored 37, 2, 1, 5, and 8 n.o.. In the last seven innings of both ODI and T20I matches. 17 and 4.
If we only look at the Twenty20 Internationals, his last fifty came on June 14, 2022, against South Africa.
Hooda has also struggled as a lower middle-order batsman. Batting at an average of just 17.88 over the last 13 innings. The highest of which was an unbeaten 41 against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede.
At No., his innings of 10 balls and 10 runs 7 on Friday had little impact. The strike rotation was also questioned, especially when the New Zealand spinners were bowling.
While India is unlikely to give newcomer Jitesh Sharma a chance to play wicketkeeper-batsman in the middle order on Sunday, Hooda and Kishan’s time is running out.
Washington Sundar, who not only bowled a tidy four overs of spin to take two wickets but also emerged as India’s top scorer with a 28-ball 50 batting at No. 1, was a huge positive for India despite the loss on Friday. 6.
Given that the Ekana Stadium in this location has large boundaries. India would need someone at the top of the order to up their game and perform some big hitting, even though No. 1 T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav is in great form.
On the other hand, the Kiwis would attempt to complete a memorable series victory in India with yet another victory. They will heavily rely on Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell, their seasoned duo, once more.