On Sunday, India easily won the second T20I of the three-match series against New Zealand. Suryakumar Yadav‘s unbeaten 51-ball 111-run knock helped India post a match-winning total of 191 for six, while New Zealand fell 65 runs short of the target. India now has one hand on the trophy as they prepare for the series finale in Napier.
Despite the massive victory, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull criticised Team India, highlighting a major concern that was later addressed by Hardik Pandya as well. While there were no batting issues in the Indian team, Doull was concerned about a lack of batting all-rounders.
Doull told Prime Video during the 2nd T20I on Sunday that “genuine batters” like Shreyas Iyer should learn to bowl to provide his captain with an extra bowling option during matches.
“That has always been the problem. When Hardik was injured…what do we do next? I mean, Shardul did a great job in the Test series in Australia. These guys around will do. But I am talking about the genuine batters. Shreyas Iyer. Why is he not bowling a lot of off-spin? Not that there are any shortage of spinners in Indian team to go and learn how to bowl off-spin. Why is he not doing it? That is my question around the situation. These young guys need to know what there future is,” he said.
Going forward I want to see more bowling options: Hardik Pandya
Hardik, who did not bowl on Sunday, stated that he anticipates batters stepping up with the bowl in the future. “I have bowled a lot, going forward I want to see more bowling options. Not always that this will work but I want more batters to chip in with the ball,” he said in the post-match presentation.
After the first match at Sky Stadium in Wellington was rained out, the Men in Blue won by 65 runs at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The series’ final T20I will be played on November 22nd at McLean Park in Napier.
