Suryakumar Yadav’s red-hot form makes India the favourite in series-decider against New Zealand

Having taken a 1-0 series lead, India may be tempted to test its bench strength by picking Umran Malik and Sanju Samson in the third and final T20 against New Zealand on Tuesday.

Published : Nov 21, 2022 16:27 IST , Napier

Suryakumar Yadav (left) celebrates his century during the T20I between India and New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. If not for the individual brilliance of Suryakumar Yadav, India would have struggled to post 160 and it would have been a grim reminder of India’s travails in the T20 World Cup.
Suryakumar Yadav (left) celebrates his century during the T20I between India and New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. If not for the individual brilliance of Suryakumar Yadav, India would have struggled to post 160 and it would have been a grim reminder of India’s travails in the T20 World Cup. | Photo Credit: AP
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Suryakumar Yadav (left) celebrates his century during the T20I between India and New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. If not for the individual brilliance of Suryakumar Yadav, India would have struggled to post 160 and it would have been a grim reminder of India’s travails in the T20 World Cup. | Photo Credit: AP

Having taken a 1-0 series lead, India may be tempted to test its bench strength by picking Umran Malik and Sanju Samson in the third and final T20 against New Zealand here on Tuesday.

India was expected to try out a bunch of players after another World Cup debacle but if the team combination for the second T20 was any indication, the team seemed reluctant to start with a clean slate. If not for the individual brilliance of Suryakumar Yadav, India would have struggled to post 160 on Sunday and it would have been a grim reminder of its travails in the World Cup Down Under.

Slow in the Powerplay

India’s Powerplay approach has been a major concern. Rishabh Pant was tried at the top with Ishan Kishan in the second game but the move did not work. Considering Pant’s class, one can expect him to fire in the series decider. Samson is another batter who can make an instant impact but the team did not start with him.

Going by Hardik Pandya’s post-match comments, the management is unlikely to make too many changes for the third T20. India leads the series 1-0 with the series opener washed out. “I don’t know (about changes for the next game). I’d like to give everyone in the squad a chance but it’s just one more game, so it’s a bit tough,” said Hardik, who is seen as the next full captain in the shortest format.

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Shubman Gill was in the running, too, for opening the batting for India in the absence of senior players, but the team went ahead with two left-handers. Gill is likely to get his chances only in the ODI series to follow. Pandya is keen on having more batters who can bowl in the playing eleven and Deepak Hooda has given him one option.

Malik continues to warm the bench

However, the biggest disappointment was the non-inclusion of Malik in the first game. It has been proved that there is a pressing need for an out-and-out pace bowler in T20 cricket and the New Zealand series is crucial to the development of the tearaway pacer.

In Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Malik, who played three T20s earlier this year, should be exposed to the pressure of playing a top team and given a long run. Playing his first game in a while, Yuzvendra Chahal showed why he should feature regularly in the team, but fellow wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav might only get to play the ODIs.

Facing a must-win scenario, New Zealand will take the field without its skipper Kane Williamson, who will miss the game due to a pre-arranged medical appointment. In his absence, the team will rely even more on opener Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips down the order to put the opposition under pressure.

The home bowlers leaked way too many runs in the death overs and they will be looking to correct that. New Zealand will also have to find a way to stop Surya, who is in the form of his life. “Suryakumar played an incredible innings out there. Everyone watched in amazement, some of the shots being played. We have had a few discussions already and we will have a few more tomorrow before the game around how to combat him,” said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead.

Squads
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (c), Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Mark Chapman.
India: Hardik Pandya (c), Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.
Match starts 12 pm IST. 
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