India vs New Zealand: 2nd T20I - Who Said What

India have won the three-match T20I series against New Zealand by winning the first two games itself. It was a comprehensive win for the home side this time after the Kiwis dragged them to the final over in the opening game. After losing the toss, New Zealand got off to a blistering start scoring a massive 64 runs in first six overs.

However, they lost their way completely in the back end of their innings. India’s spinners Ravi Ashwin and Axar Patel first applied the brakes on the run-scoring and then the pacers as well got into their groove taking pace off the ball. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar were expensive thanks to the early assault on the new-ball duo, Harshal Patel, the debutant, did his job perfectly like he did in the IPL 2021 returning with figures of 2/25.

After restricting New Zealand to just 153, India needed a good start. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma did just that. Though it wasn’t a blistering start, both batters made sure to get set before launching an assault and there was no looking back then. They added 117 runs for the opening wicket and both Rahul and Rohit reached their respective half-centuries.

New Zealand fought back well to pick three wickets but it was too late by then and India cantered home with seven wickets in hand in the 18th over of the innings to pocket the series with one game to go.

Player of the Match, Harshal Patel said:

The match did run through. When you are in the process you just get engrossed. It will sink in and it has been a great game. I couldn’t have asked for a better debut. The progress is gradual and slow.

For someone like me who is not exceptionally talented, I had to build my game from ground up. I made mistakes and then found things that I can and cannot do well. It has been a great journey and has taught me many lessons which will hold me in good stead even after cricket.

You need to package your deliveries well. I couldn’t bowl those yorkers and loopy slower ones in these conditions. The yorker is a delivery I would like to use and get better at. I have seen myself fall into shiny things so many times. It is another platform for me to come, perform and show my skills.

India skipper, Rohit Sharma said:

Great effort from the entire unit. Wasn’t the easiest of conditions but the way we applied ourselves was amazing. We know their quality of batting, they played some good shots to start with. But I kept telling the boys that it is all about one wicket. But we showed great application and temperament to restrict them.

The quality of the bench has been amazing. They have been performing consistently whenever they get the chance. It is important for me to give them the freedom. The external matters will take care of themselves. It is a young team and the guys haven’t played a lot of games. It is important that the guys get time in the middle.

It is early to think about changes in the next game. Whatever suits team India, we’ll do that. We need to make sure we look after the guys who are playing now. They haven’t played a lot either. For the guys who haven’t played, their time will come, there are a lot of T20s.

Harshal has done it time and again, he is a very skillful bowler. Even in these conditions, he used the slower ball really well.

New Zealand skipper, Tim Southee said:

Credit to India, they pulled it back nicely after the first six overs. They played better cricket and didn’t give us a chance with the bat as well. It was wet for both teams and it was only slightly more in the second innings. We knew dew would be a factor, but India were too good on this day. We will now go to a new venue, a quick turnaround, and we’ll assess when we get to Kolkata.