Ind vs NZ: India won the second T20I by six wickets and the three-match T20I series is hanging in balance now at one game each. On a rank turner in Lucknow, India squeezed New Zealand to collapse only one run short of 100 and deserved appreciation to New Zealand bowling who still stretched the match till the last over while defending it.
Two nights before Lucknow T20I, India faced a hammering loss in the first T20 where New Zealand gave India 177 runs target and India fall 21 runs short of the target. Mitchell Santner was the spoiler for the Indian chase where he took two wickets and only conceded 11 runs in his 4 overs. Surya was in the middle and Washington Sundar was the one fighting till the end before he lost his wicket in the last over.
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Hardik Pandya, the skipper, has blamed poor pitches after a loss and a squeaky victory over New Zealand on turning tracks. Apart from the bad surfaces, the Indian openers have both struggled in the T20Is, and this needs to be addressed. Ishan has struggled to replicate his ODI form in T20s while Shubman Gill hasn’t figured out the T20 game.
In this article, we discuss what changes can India do to strengthen the playing XI in the 3rd T20I against New Zealand.
Expected changes for the 3rd T20I against New Zealand
Prithvi IN – Ishan Kishan or Shubman Gill OUT?
Either talk about Ishan or Shubman, both have failed in both of the first two T20Is, and hence with both under the scanner, Prithvi Shaw is set to end his exile and put on the India jersey in T20s once again. Prithvi Shaw has shown his caliber before in the IPL where he is the first-choice opener for Delhi Capitals and has hit Shivam Mavi for 6 boundaries in an over. He possesses a strike rate hovering around 150 and definitely can create havoc in the opposition camp.
Jitesh Sharma to be handed the debut cap?
Ishan Kishan is playing the wicketkeeper role at this time in the playing XI of team India. If Prithvi replaces him so Jitesh Sharma may get a chance and can replace Shubman Gill. Rahul Tripathi would be an ideal choice to partner with Prithvi in the opening. Surya could bat at 3 and Jitesh at 4 would be the perfect batting line-up.
Umran to re-enter the ground?
In the first T20I, Arshdeep was very disappointing with his bowling figures and in the 2nd T20I, he was handed the ball in the late 18th over. Are we playing a player for just 2 overs in the death? Even then considering him in the playing XI, Shivam Mavi bowled just one over. What is the more beautiful thing than watching ‘Kul-Cha’, Chahal and Kuldeep bowling together? The surface of Lucknow was aiding spinners so the combination does work but Ahmedabad isn’t a spinner’s venue. Walking in with 4 spinning options never looks ideal and hence Umran may get a spot in the playing XI.
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