IND vs NZ 2nd T20 LIVE – India Playing XI 2nd T20: India vs NewZealand LIVE – IND NZ 2nd T20 – From a clean-sweep high, India are in a desperate situation to avoid the first series defeat to NewZealand at home. India Cricket Team are 0-1 down and head to Lucknow for the series decider 2nd T20. While captain Hardik blamed it on the Ranchi pitch for their loss in 1st T20, he has two glaring problems to solve. Despite backing Shubman Gill publicly, he is yet to convince in T20Is while Arshdeep Singh has made things worse for him since the T20 World Cup. With options on the bench, Hardik and Rahul Dravid need to take some tough calls for Lucknow T20. Follow IND vs NZ LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
- Prithvi Shaw for Shubman Gill?
- Mukesh Kumar/Yuzvendra Chahal for Arshdeep Singh?
India Playing XI 2nd T20: Hardik Pandya aims to SOLVE Shubman-Arshdeep puzzle in SERIES-DECIDER Lucknow T20, Follow IND vs NZ LIVE Updates
India are in a stage in T20s where no one will blame the team management for experimentation. That is where sticking to the same combination becomes an issue for the Dravid-Pandya duo. Dravid has already paid the price of rigidity in T20 selection before and during T20 WC. Hence, Shubman Gill is a question India need to answer.
Shubman Gill or Prithvi Shaw? – Hardik Pandya made it clear that Shubman Gill will get the nod ahead of Shaw and the Mumbaikar will have to wait in the wings. But for how long? India faced a similar problem with KL Rahul, whose below average T20 strike rate threatened India’s T20 template. With him out of the T20 team, India have a similar KL Rahul problem even in his absence.
Shubman’s numbers in T20s are not better than KL Rahul’s. Both have suffered from a sluggish powerplay approach. But unlike Rahul, Shubman is yet to make that opening slot his own.
India Playing XI 2nd T20: Hardik Pandya aims to SOLVE Shubman-Arshdeep puzzle in SERIES-DECIDER Lucknow T20, Follow IND vs NZ LIVE Updates
Shubman vs Prithvi:
- Gill has one of the worst powerplay strike rates in T20s with 119.92.
- In his four innings in T20Is so far, Gill has three single-digit scores and one score of 46 at a strike rate of 127.77.
- While Gill is in terrific ODI form, Team India cannot make a repeated mistake of identifying ODI talent for T20s.
- It did not work last time out and India must address that while there is time.
- Shaw’s return to the fold is what India would have wanted to revitalise the powerplay scoring.
- Shaw has a staggering 152.34, the best in Team India, even ahead of Suryakumar Yadav.
Arshdeep Singh or Mukesh Kumar? – The other dilemma is regarding Arshdeep Singh. Even though he is India’s best-performing T20 bowler of late, he is also the worst-performing bowler. Since T20 World Cup 2022, he has given away runs at an economy rate of 11.10.
The left-arm seamer has struggled with his no-balls. On Friday, he conceded 27 runs in an over and went for 51 runs in his 4. Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey needs to sit with him and discuss where he is faltering. Arshdeep is already the bowler with most no-balls in T20 cricket and he added another to his tally on Friday.
To change things for Team India, Dravid can take a chance with Mukesh Kumar, who has done excellently in domestic cricket. Till the time Deepak Chahar is fit once again, the likes of Mukesh Kumar could rejig the bowling attack.
For a temporary fix, India can play both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in place of Arshdeep. With Lucknow pitch also conducive of spin, India may want to go with an additional spinner.
IND vs NZ – India Playing XI 2nd T20:
- Ishan Kishan (WK)
- Shubman Gill/ Prithvi Shaw
- Rahul Tripathi
- Suryakumar Yadav (VC)
- Hardik Pandya (C)
- Deepak Hooda
- Washington Sundar
- Shivam Mavi
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Umran Malik
- Yuzvendra Chahal/ Arshdeep Singh
As for other spots, Rahul Tripathi will need to step up and make his opportunities count in Sanju Samson’s absence. Despite his domestic and IPL exploits, he hasn’t really set the international stage on fire. With so much competition, he has to score a ton of runs. So far, Tripathi has only ebbed and flowed. With Jitesh Sharma also waiting in the wings, he has to deliver.
India’s T20I squad against New Zealand: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Suryakumar Yadav (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Prithvi Shaw, Mukesh Kumar
India Playing XI 2nd T20: Hardik Pandya aims to SOLVE Shubman-Arshdeep puzzle in SERIES-DECIDER Lucknow T20, Follow IND vs NZ LIVE Updates
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