After thrashing, India seek redemption
AUCKLAND: A strong comeback will be expected from India after the hammering from New Zealand in the series opener when the two teams square up in the second T20 at Eden Park here on Friday.
After suffering their biggest loss in T20s in terms of runs on Wednesday night, India don’t have time to introspect with just 24 hours separating the two games.
It was the kind of day when nothing went right for India who let New Zealand amass 219 before surrendering meekly in the steep chase.
Opener Tim Seifert took the India bowlers to the cleaners with a 43-ball 84 and the visitors must have a plan to contain him. Not even Bhuvneshwar Kumar was spared as he, alongside Hardik Pandya and Khaleel Ahmed, leaked 12 runs an over.
The team may replace Ahmed with either Siddharth Kaul or Mohammad Siraj, who warmed the bench on Wednesday.
Spinners Krunal Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal did alright but the team management will also consider including Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav.
TAME DEFEAT
The lack of fight in the run chase was a big disappointment, as stated by captain Rohit Sharma in Wellington. Despite having eight batsmen in the eleven, India lost by 80 runs.
He would like to lead from the front after scoring 1 on Wednesday and a significant contribution will also be expected from Rishabh Pant, who is in the running for a World Cup berth.
Pant could not do much in Wellington, scoring four before spinner Mitchell Santner bowled him with a fast yorker.
All-rounder Vijay Shankar was promoted to No 3 and got a 18-ball 27. It remains to be seen if he gets another shot at the same position or the team brings in Shubman Gill, who would be desperate to perform after the two failures in ODIs.
Another victory will seal the series for the hosts, who were outplayed 1-4 in the One-day International series.
Captain Kane Williamson can’t be happier with the showing in the first T20 but wants his team to focus on the job at hand.
“It was a complete performance that doesn’t happen everyday and hope we can keep the momentum through the series having set the tone,” he said.
The dangerous opening duo of Colin Munro and Seifert put the India pacers under tremendous pressure early in the innings and dismissing them cheaply will be crucial for the visitors.
Coming back into the side after playing just one ODI against India, Tim Southee proved his value with tidy figures of 17 runs in four overs, including three wickets.
Spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner too were on top of the India batsmen, sharing two wickets apiece.