Highlights:
- New Zealand defeated India in their 2nd match of Super 12 in ICC T20 World Cup
- New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets and 33 balls to spare
- Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar points out what went wrong for team India
In the ongoing ICC T20 World, India suffered a couple of major blows which have virtually ended their hopes for the semifinal as New Zealand handed an 8 wicket defeat to India on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.
Virat Kohli’s team yet again endured a major batting collapse with none of the top-order batsmen able to play up to their potential and score more than 20 runs. Opener KL Rahul could only register 18 from 16 balls and his partner Ishan Kishan could only add four runs to the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, who was demoted from his usual opener position, managed 14 off 14 balls from the no. 3 position and Kohli bagged a paltry score of 9 from 17 deliveries. After the game, Sunil Gavaskar criticised the changes in the batting order and stated that Rohit should never have been demoted from his role as an opener.
The former Indian cricketer also called Kishan a “hit-or-miss player” and added that he should never have opened for India.
Also Read: 10 Best T20 Batsmen In The World
Speaking on Sports Tak, the former Indian cricket legend said, “I don’t know if it’s the fear of failure or something else. But the changes in the batting order didn’t help the team.
“A big player like Rohit Sharma is sent at no.3. And then someone like Kohli, who has scored so many runs at no.3, comes to bat at No.4.
“Then you have a young player like Ishan Kishan, who has been given the responsibility to open the batting.”
The 72 year old Indian-cricketer turned commentator further explained that the move could have also affected Rohit’s confidence as he has been India’s opener for the past few years.
He said, “See, Ishan Kishan is like a hit-or-miss player. He will make runs in one match and then he won’t in the others. So for this sort of player, it would be better if you make him play at number 4 or 5 and then he can swing his bat on the basis of the situation.
But here you sent him to open so what happened is that you told Rohit Sharma that we don’t have confidence in you facing the left-arm bowling of Trent Boult.
If you do that to a player who has played in that position for so many years, he will also think that he actually doesn’t have the ability.”
Also Read: Best Fantasy App To Win Exciting Rewards & Cash
He further added that “If Ishan Kishan would have scored 70 runs today, we would have applauded the move. But when the move doesn’t work, you get criticised”.
In the innings, India, sluggishly, could only score 110 after losing 7 wickets in 20 overs as Trent Boult took 3 wickets in four overs.
Meanwhile, Ish Sodhi also registered two dismissals with Tim Southee and Adam Milne grabbing 1 wicket each.
New Zealand saw its bowlers in top form with Sodhi taking the wicket of Rohit as well as skipper Kohli. Meanwhile, Southee sent Indian opener KL Rahul back to the dressing room.
Boult took the wicket of dangerous Kishan.
Boult also took the sent all-rounder Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur.
Chasing a modest target of 111, New Zealand crossed the line in just 14.3 overs. Daryl Mitchell top-scored for the Black Caps with a knock of 49 off 35 deliveries and Kane Williamson played an unbeaten inning and smashed 33 off 31 balls.
Bumrah was India’s best bowler, taking 2 wickets (Daryl Mitchell and Martin Guptill) in 4 overs while giving away just 19 runs. Mohammed Shami’s poor form continued as he was struck for 11 in the only over he bowled.
Shardul Thakur, too, was expensive, giving away 17 runs in 1.3 overs.