India must elevate their sport a couple of notches because the Hardik Pandya-led aspect faces a must-win state of affairs to degree the three-match T20I collection in opposition to New Zealand, right here on Sunday.
India had been caught in a spin net on the Ranchi pitch and misplaced the opener by 21 runs on Friday.
The loss additionally highlighted India’s bowling profligacy, particularly by the tempo duo of Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik.
If tearaway pacer Malik conceded 16 runs in a single over, Arshdeep leaked 27 runs within the final over, which put stress on the India batters whereas chasing.
That costly over from the younger left-arm fast was the turning level as he was smashed for 3 sixes and a boundary.
India’s batters had been off to an inauspicious begin with the top-three managing simply 15 runs. The hosts ended up scoring 155/9, which might have been a par rating to defend on the wicket, as indicated by Washington Sundar after the match.
“150 would’ve been par and we’d’ve been very pleased with it,” the India all-rounder stated.
Skipper Pandya, nonetheless, is unlikely to usher in uncapped tempo bowler Mukesh Kumar for the second T20I and can in all probability again Arshdeep to bounce again.
Kishan, Hooda beneath scrutiny
Whereas Shubman Gill, who has been in red-hot type within the ODIs, has performed simply 4 T20Is and continues to be studying the nuances of the shortest format, the large concern would be the two key batters — Ishan Kishan and Deepak Hooda.
Occupying the opening spot, Kishan is nowhere close to the ominous type he confirmed whereas slamming a record-breaking ODI double-century in opposition to Bangladesh final December.
Since then, Ishan’s scores within the final seven innings in each ODIs and T20Is learn 37, 2, 1, 5, 8 n.o., 17 and 4.
If one simply considers the T20Is, it’s been some time since he final scored a fifty — in opposition to South Africa on June 14, 2022.
Hooda, too, hasn’t loved a lot success as a decrease middle-order batter and averages simply 17.88 within the final 13 innings, with the very best being the unbeaten 41 in opposition to Sri Lanka on the Wankhede.
His innings of 10 runs from 10 balls at No. 7 on Friday lacked affect and the rotation of strike additionally got here beneath scrutiny, particularly when the New Zealand spinners had been bowling.
Whereas India are unlikely to check out newcomer Jitesh Sharma within the position of wicketkeeper-batter within the middle-order on Sunday, time is actually operating out for Hooda and Kishan.
Regardless of the loss on Friday, there was an enormous optimistic for India in Washington Sundar, who not solely bowled a tidy 4 overs of spin to take two wickets, but in addition emerged India’s topscorer with a 28-ball 50 batting at No. 6.
With No.1-ranked T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav in terrific type, India would wish somebody on the high of the order to lift their sport and do some large hitting, provided that the Ekana Stadium right here has large boundaries.
The Kiwis, alternatively, would search for one other victory to safe a memorable collection win in India. They may as soon as once more rely closely on their in-form duo of Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell.
Groups (from)
India: Hardik Pandya (c), Suryakumar Yadav (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, Dane Cleaver (wk), Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Rippon, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy, Henry Shipley and Ben Lister.
Match begins: 7pm.