Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Men in Blue look to seal series as New Zealand search for comeback at Guwahati
India won the toss and elected to bowl first in the third T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Sunday. With a 2-0 lead in the series, the Men in Blue are firmly in control and will be keen to continue their dominant run. The inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi added further strength to India’s bowling attack as they asked the visitors to set a target.
The opening two matches in Nagpur and Raipur showcased India’s superior depth and momentum. New Zealand, despite putting up competitive totals, have found it difficult to match India’s explosive batting lineup. In the second T20I, the visitors managed to score close to 190 while chasing and crossed the 200-run mark when batting first, yet both efforts fell short against an Indian side that hunted down targets with remarkable ease.
The Raipur game, in particular, underlined New Zealand’s struggles. They showed intent and control for large parts of the innings and looked set for a commanding total. However, India’s batting firepower turned the contest on its head as the hosts chased down a 200-plus target in less than 16 overs. Suryakumar Yadav rediscovered his fluent touch, Hardik Pandya displayed his trademark all-round brilliance, and Rinku Singh once again impressed in the finisher’s role.
Speaking after winning the toss, India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the pitch looked good for batting later on and mentioned the presence of dew as a key factor behind his decision to bowl first. He also shared his simple message to the team: “Take calls, be humble.”
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner admitted that his side had done many things right but acknowledged that India had outplayed them in crucial moments. “We batted well, but with the ball we came up against a strong team. Different games in different cities, we’ve got to go again,” he said.
With Bumrah leading the pace attack and Bishnoi adding variety in spin, India will look to tighten the screws early. New Zealand, on the other hand, will hope their batting finally translates into a winning performance as they attempt to stay alive in the series.
Playing XIs
India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy