After New Zealand gained the primary T20I by 21 runs on Friday, India captain Hardik Pandya stated that the pitch on the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi “caught us by surprise”. The Kiwis took a 1-0 lead within the three-match sequence as India’s batting crumbled below the sunshine in Ranchi. Chasing a goal of 177, India have been restricted to 155 for 9 in 20 overs, regardless of Washington Sundar‘s maiden fifty within the format. However, Hardik stated that his staff conceded some additional runs, which made life troublesome for the batters.

“No one even thought that the wicket would play like that and both teams were surprised. But they played better cricket on this and that’s why the result end up like that. Actually the new ball was turning more than the old one and the way it spun, way it bounced, it caught us by surprise. But somehow, we pulled it back and were in the game till Surya and myself were batting. On hindsight, I don’t think this wicket was 177, we were poor with the ball and we ended up giving 25 runs more than the par…,” Hardik stated on the post-match presentation ceremony.

Hardik hailed Sundar, who scored 50 off 28, for preserving India within the hunt, including that his younger aspect will solely get higher.

“It is a young group and we will only learn from this. The way he bowled, batted and fielded; it was Washington against New Zealand today. We needed someone who can bat and bowl, gives us a lot of confidence and it will help us going forward,” he added.

With the win, New Zealand took a 1-0 within the sequence, and can face India within the second T20I in Lucknow on Sunday.

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