India made a statement with a fairly comfortable win over New Zealand but will want to see almost immediate growth.
New Zealand have had little time to prepare for this series and face an uphill task getting back into it.
India vs New Zealand | Friday 19 November 2021 | JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi | 15:30
To Win Match
India 34/100 | Tie 25/1 | New Zealand 47/20
India
India started the Rohit Sharma era by delivering a win for their new skipper in a match just hard enough to give the home side a stern test.
Suryakumar Yadav has long been touted as the future of India’s T20 team and is starting to show why that is on the international stage.
The bowlers were disciplined in difficult conditions and on a ground where six-hitting was for some batsmen, quite easy to achieve.
Bhuvneshawar Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin put in performances that show they still have a future in the shortest format of the game, last time out.
New Zealand
New Zealand are without skipper Kane Williamson for the entire T20 series despite him being physically present in India and another regular, in Kyle Jamieson has been rested.
The Black Caps let themselves down with their bowling choices out in the middle as Tim Southee left part-timer Daryll Mitchell to bowl the crucial six balls.
New Zealand would be encouraged by the continued good form of Martin Guptill and a good knock from Mark Chapman.
Mitchell Santner is likely to continue to be the key bowler for the Black Caps, but they will need to utilise their resources more efficiently.
Verdict: India 34/100
India should have the muscle to close out the series.
