In the first Twenty20 International, India’s team was defeated by New Zealand by 21 runs. In Ranchi, when attempting to chase 177 runs, the home team was reduced to 155 runs short as their top order crumbled. After India lost early wickets quickly, Washington Sundar (50) and Suryakumar Yadav (47) produced quickfire runs to reinvigorate the Indian batting. The team’s two most experienced batsmen, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not participating, leaving Hardik Pandya to lead the team.
Sundar, who had an all-around game with magnificent statistics of 2/22 in four overs, addressed the press conference after the game and spoke on the reasons for India’s loss. One of the reporters questioned Sundar whether the team needed to switch up their batting order during their conversation.
Sundar, however, made a counter-question. “Do you think any change is needed? Do you think so?” Sundar asked.
After the reporter expressed his opinion that something needs to be changed, the India all-rounder said that the team just had a terrible day.
“All of them have got so many runs in T20s. One game can change everything? If you don’t get your favourite biryani in one restaurant, will you never go there again? It’s just one day. It happens. It’s a sport. All 22 players cannot perform. All of them have done well to get to this stage and they keep doing well,” said Sundar.
“It happens in a game. Even NZ collapsed in Raipur. It doesn’t mean they changed anything in their top order. Such things, we will have to be patient. This management is calm and patient as long as we are learning from the mistakes. Going forward, we are going to be very strong side,” he added.
On January 29, Team India will return to Lucknow for the second Twenty20 International of the series. For the most portion of the first T20I of the series in Ranchi, Washington Sundar was facing up against New Zealand, as Hardik Pandya described it in the post-match presentation.
If either Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel hadn’t been out, Washington likely wouldn’t have participated in this game. On a difficult surface in Ranchi, Washington has shown hints of his potential despite their absence.
After two overs of excessively full bowling from Arshdeep Singh and Hardik in the powerplay, the skipper gave Washington the new ball for the third over. Since March 2021, when Jos Buttler took him out of the Indian attack during the powerplay in Ahmedabad, the offspinner has not bowled for India during the powerplay in T20Is. Washington’s career has been derailed by injuries since then, but his savvy with the new ball is still intact.
