India’s stand-in captain Hardik Pandya wants more batters to chip in the ball after the team won the second T20I against New Zealand by a big margin of 65 runs at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on Sunday. Pandya also heaped praise on Suryakumar Yadav, who scored a magnificent knock of 111 runs off just 51 balls.
Hardik Pandya decided not to bowl himself as a sixth bowler and instead backed Deepak Hooda. The off-spinner did a fine job for the team as he returned with impressive figures of 4-10, with three of the last four wickets coming in the final over he bowled.
On the other hand, SKY was brilliant in helping India post an above-par score of 191 runs on a pitch that wasn’t that easy. However, SKY once again showed his class as he tormented New Zealand’s bowling attack with shots all around the ground.
Meanwhile, New Zealand was skittled out for a paltry score of 126 runs after the home team failed to achieve any kind of impetus in their batting innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided the first blow as he sent back dangerous Finn Allen for a duck and it pushed the hosts behind the eighth ball.
Kane Williamson top-scored for the Kiwis with 61 runs but his strike rate of 117 was just not good enough for the team.
Hardik Pandya was delighted after the team took a 1-0 lead in the series. He said in the post-match presentation, “Can’t get any better than this. Everyone chipped it but it was surely a special innings by Surya. We would have taken a score of 170-175. Bowlers did well and it was about being aggressive in the mindset. It doesn’t mean taking a wicket every ball, but being aggressive with the ball is important. The conditions were very wet, so credit to the bowlers. I have bowled a lot, going forward I want to see more bowling options. Not always that this will work but I want more batters to chip in with the ball.”
He added, “I expect them to be professional, which they are. Give them the opportunity to enjoy themselves. It’s about creating an environment where they are all in a happy space. I see many times in this team that all the players are happy for each other’s success. And that’s important. I don’t know (about changes for the next game). I’d like to give everyone in the squad a chance but it’s just one more game, so it’s a bit tough.”
The third T20I between New Zealand and India will be played at McLean Park, Napier on Tuesday.
