The Men in Blue got over the line comfortably in the second T20I against New Zealand while chasing a target of 209 runs as they were helped by match-winning half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Men in Blue: The Performance
The duo added 122 runs for the third wicket after India lost both its openers in seven balls with six runs on the board. Ishan, who scored 76 runs off just 32 balls, started the attack in the first six overs and kept the pressure away from the home team.
The left-hander got good support from Suryakumar Yadv who took charge after Ishan got out and completed a much-needed half-century in T20I cricket after 14 months.
Men in Blue: The Concern
However, it wasn’t all hunky dory for the defending T20 World Cup winners when the chase began with both openers, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, getting dismissed in quick succession, leaving India in a spot of bother.
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Men in Blue: The Choice
More than Abhishek, it was the dismissal of his opening partner, Sanju, which raised questions, as the designated wicketkeeper batter hasn’t been able to get going in the series so far
Questioning Sanju’s performance, former Indian batter and 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth said that the team management will have to decide between Kishan and Samson, as according to hom only one og them can be a part of the playing XI with Tilak expected to return for the fourth game.
Men in Blue: What They Said?
“Now the question mark is what will you do when Tilak returns? Does Sanju Samson go out? Sanju is under pressure. He is looking desperate. Why are you becoming desperate?” Srikkanth was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.
Men in Blue: The Returns
Sanju was dismissed on the second ball in the previous match and survived a dropped chance on the first ball of the chase, which went for six.
Srikkanth further said, “When he was dropped once, he should have just taken a single. The mistake he did was he went after the bowling rather then giving strike to Abhishek. You got a six. Rotate the strike, get back your rhythm. He became desperate. And when you become desperate, you become greedy. This is what happens.”
Men in Blue: The Pressure
According to Srikkanth, the pressure will be on Sanju Samson from now on with Ishan, who is the other wicketkeeping option in the squad, also scoring runs.
In Srikanth’s words, “Now he (Samson) knows Ishan is scoring and is also a wicketkeeper, so that is going to put pressure on him. Now Gill can ask what he did, Shreyas is sitting out. The competition is so huge. Surya took some time and then got going. Sanju should have looked to do that.”
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Men in Blue: The Praise
In addition to talking about Sanju, Srikkanth also praised Shivam Dube for his performance with both bat and ball in the series so far.
The former Indian opener was of the opinion that batters think that they can easily take on Dube and get out in an attempt to do so.
According to Sportskeeda, Srikkanth said, “I think Dube is a good bowler. Batters think he is easy to hit and then get out to him. They are using him well. He batted also really well, at a 200 strike rate.”