India faced their second consecutive loss in the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup as New Zealand took them down by eight wickets.
After losing to Pakistan in the first contest, both teams needed a win here and it was New Zealand who proved too good for India.
India batted first and they had replaced Suryakumar Yadav for Ishan Kishan. Bhuvneshwar Kumar missed out, Shardul Thakur came in as well.
Rahul and Kishan opened the innings for the team but they didn’t last long as India were reduced to 35/2. Rohit Sharma, who came in at three, was given a life by Milne in the very first ball but that didn’t cost New Zealand much as the vice-captain walked back, making just 14.
The wickets kept falling from both ends and India couldn’t do much in the death overs either. There was a boundary drought in between where the team had to wait for 71 deliveries in between two boundaries.
Cameos from Pandya and Jadeja took the team to 110.
Chasing a below par total, New Zealand openers had 24-run partnership and Jasprit Bumrah removed Guptil, becoming the first Indian bowler to pick up a wicket in this World Cup.
He then removed Mitchell as well but it was just too late. The all-rounder made 49 from 35, shared a good partnership with Williamson as the team went past India’s target with ease.
Ish Sodhi, the birthday boy, won the player of the match award for his 2 for 17. Sodhi removed both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.