Chasing a modest target of 126, Indian batsmen failed collectively as a unit against New Zealand’s spinners and were bundled out for just 79 runs in 18.1 overs, their lowest ever T20 score on home soil. Dhoni then tried hard to dig India out of their hole but his valiant run-a-ball 30 made little difference as wickets kept on tumbling at the other end.
Advertisement
“They bowled well and exploited the conditions, but at the same time I felt we lacked a bit of adaptability”.
New Zealand: Tim Southee and Trent Boult have not been included in the XI for this match, with New Zealand going for a spin-heavy attack comprising Ish Sodhi, the legspinner, Nathan McCullum, the offspinner, and Michael Santner, the left-arm spinner. As a result India loss the games.
Number one ranked Team India is ready to start their title hunt in the opening match against New Zealand in a generally batting-track at Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) stadium in Jamtha today.
Mitchell Santner was the most successful of the bolwers taking 4-11.
New Zealand kicked off the Super 10’s in awesome style after a comprehensive victory over hosts and favourites India. India were outplayed at their own game by New Zealand’s unheralded spinners.
Sky Sport 1 will broadcast the World T20 opening match live in New Zealand, with the live stream option on Sky Go NZ. However, the team is full of youngsters who has the potential to win big games.
New Zealand had never lost to India in the shortest format but that looked in danger after they were restricted to 126 for seven, having chose to bat first. “We’ll have to see what the pitches produce”. “But they did bowl well”, Dhoni said at the post-match media conference.
Right from Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh to all-rounder Hardik Pandya – all of them batted as if the was a demon on the pitch. India’s three off-spinner givers 74 runs in 12 overs and took 3 wickets.
The spin-fast combination of Ashwin and Ashish Nehra deployed by captain MS Dhoni worked in India’s favour as the Kiwis were left stuttering at 61 for four.
Advertisement
Dhoni sounded confident of putting behind the defeat and come back strong when they play arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday in Kolklata.
