The Indian cricket team under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya won the 3-match T20I series against New Zealand by 1-0 as the first match got abandoned due to rain while the third one got tied because of rain. The 2nd T20I was won by India with the help of Suryakumar Yadav’s terrific knock of 111 runs not out.
Though the Indian team won the series, still there were many who slammed the team management for not playing Sanju Samson and Umran Malik and the skipper was also asked questions in this regard at the post-match conference.
When Hardik Pandya is asked about Umran Malik and Sanju Samson not getting a chance, he states that first of all what people are saying outside doesn’t have an effect at this level. He adds that it is his team and he along with the coach will take the decision regarding the side that should play.
He further says that there is ample time, everyone will get an opportunity and whenever they get, they will get good number of chances. According to Pandya, this was a small series so obviously there were fewer opportunities but if it had been a bigger series, the opportunities would have been more. He also makes it clear that he doesn’t believe in chop and change and won’t believe in it in the future as well.
In the third T20I, the Kiwis put up a total of 160 runs on the board in 19.4 overs with the help of Devon Conway’s 59 runs and Glenn Phillips’ knock of 54 runs. The match got tied because the Indian team couldn’t play more than 9 overs due to rain and they could score 75 runs after losing 4 wickets.
The Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh took 4-4 wickets each but the former was more effective as he gave only 17 runs in his 4 overs while the latter conceded 37 runs in his 4 overs. While Mohammed Siraj was adjudged as the Player of the Match, Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged as the Player of the Series.
It is quite certain that Hardik Pandya will remain the skipper of India’s T20I team even after the New Zealand tour and Rohit Sharma will now focus on ODIs and test matches only.
Which players do you feel should be dropped in order to give chance to Umran Malik and Sanju Samson? Let us know your views.