India VS New Zealand: 2nd T20🏏

India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I, Highlights: Surya Kumar Yadav’s unbeaten 111-run knock followed by a spirited bowling performance by the bowlers saw Team India defeat New Zealand by 65 runs in the 2nd T20I of the three-match series on Sunday. With this win, Team India have gained a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. For India, Deepak Hooda returned with four wickets. Earlier, Surya Kumar Yadav’s unbeaten 111-run knock guided Team India to 191/6 in 20 overs. SKY smashed 111* off 51 balls to keep momentum towards Team India, after initial fall of wickets.

For New Zealand, Tim Southee took a hat-trick in the last over while Lockie Ferguson also scalped two wickets. Apart from Suryakumar, Ishan Kishan also played a knock of 36 runs off 31 balls. Suryakumar Yadav continued his purple patch, further proving his credentials as the best T20 batsman in the world, as his masterly unbeaten 111 off just 51 balls took India to a resounding 65-run win over New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. The first game of the three-match series, India vs New Zealand was washed out but Yadav lit the second match with his pyrotechniques.

The recent T20 World Cup in Australia had added to Yadav’s aura, and he continued in the same way after crossing the Tasman Sea. After the match was interrupted by rain in the first half of the Indian innings, Surya Kumar Yadav took charge and the home bowlers had no answers to his onslaught. It was only a 20th-over hat-trick by veteran Tim Southee that prevented India from reaching the 200-run mark. “In T20, a hundred is always special but at the same time, it was really important for me to bat till the very end. Hardik (Pandya) was telling me to bat till the 18th or 19th over and get to a score of 185 or so.

After the end of the 16th over, we had a chat about taking it deep. It was important to maximise the last few overs. I have been doing the same things over and over again, in the nets and it’s just coming off for me,” Yadav told Prime Video about his innings in India vs New Zealand that featured 11 fours and seven sixes.

Hardik Pandya | India captain on India vs New Zealand: Can’t get any better than this. Everyone chipped it but it was surely a special innings by Surya. We would have taken a score of 170-175. Bowlers did well and it was about being aggressive in the mindset. It doesn’t mean taking a wicket every ball, but being aggressive with the ball is important. The conditions were very wet, so credit to the bowlers. 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. 

Important to start with a win 🇮🇳 Well done to the entire team! That was special @surya_14kumar 👌🤙 pic.twitter.com/9EUgiZJ4wp

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) November 20, 2022

Numero Uno showing why he's the best in the world. Didn't watch it live but I'm sure this was another video game innings by him. 😂 @surya_14kumar

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) November 20, 2022

I expect them to be professional, which they are. Give them the opportunity to enjoy themselves. It’s about creating an environment where they are all in a happy space. I see many times in this team that all the players are happy for each other’s success. And that’s important. 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.

Kane Williamson | NZ skipper on India vs New Zealand: It was not our best effort. Surya’s innings was out of this world. One of the best knocks I’ve ever seen. Some of those shots, I’ve never seen before. They were outstanding, we weren’t up to mark. We didn’t get momentum with the ball, didn’t get enough wickets and didn’t get momentum with the bat either. It was frustrating.

Again, I’ll say about Surya Kumar Yadav, his innings was the difference. It did swing a bit (in the chase) and India did well to get some swing. Important to look at those few areas and improve. Need to look at the small margins. Sometimes, a special innings can happen, Surya is the best player in the world.

Surya Kumar Yadav | Player of the Match: The plan was clear when I went into bat. At the 12th/13th over, we thought about batting deep and getting around 170-175 was a par score. Secret (behind his freak shots) is about the intent and you need to enjoy yourself. It’s also about the work you do in the practice sessions. It’s a great feeling coming here, having a full game and going 1-0 in the series feels good. I feel that I didn’t think too much about what was happening. Just had my game plan in India vs New Zealand match and it worked very well.

Dominant win 😎
Onto the next one 💪 pic.twitter.com/FGZdxxXQWE

— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) November 20, 2022

I think New Zealand lost it in the middle when Sky was smashing sixes off the ground, however it could have been a 200 for India if Southee hadn’t picked a hattrick and kept Surya off the Strike in the last over of India’s innings. Kane Williamson proved to be a lone fighter for the Kiwis, but it couldn’t work for the team. He didn’t got a support from other players and all pressure rely on his shoulder.

The first match got wash-out because of heavy rainfall. Indian team started their innings with two left-handed openers against New Zealand. India vs New Zealand matches are always a treat to watch and are exciting. Surya Kumar Yadav is in a spectacular form, in the T20 World Cup also he scored many runs for team India. He is a destructive batter and the opposition is vary of him. It is a treat to watch him play innovative and destructive shots against the opponents. New Zealand looked a bit casual while playing, except Southee who got a hattrick as Indian batsman were only looking for a big hit not taking a single and giving strike to Surya Kumar Yadav.