Indian all-rounder Krunal Pandya on Wednesday revealed the reason behind Team India’s 80-run loss to New Zealand in the first match of the three-match T20 series. According to Pandya, fielding restrictions in the first six Powerplay overs is challenging for any bowler and Team India gave plenty of runs in the middle overs that proved costly for the visiting team.
“In the Powerplay as well as in the middle overs also, we gave away plenty of runs,” Krunal said at the post-match media conference.
Pandya also maintained that the target of 220 runs wasn’t easy to chase.
“Yes, obviously I guess, when you are chasing 218 (220), it’s not that easy. Initially, we gave away (too many) runs and kept on leaking runs in the middle overs as well. So no matter how the pitch was, the scoreboard pressure was obviously there,” Pandya said.
The Baroda all-rounder felt that India’s defeat was “a combination of both poor bowling and some great batting by the Black Caps,” before adding, “They batted really well and we bowled a few loose deliveries as well. So it was a combination of both.”
During the series opener, a couple of catches were dropped including one by wicketkeeper MS Dhoni, when Man of the match Tim Seifert hadn’t scored much. Seifert was the star of the match with the bat. The Kiwi batsman smashed 84 off 43 balls with seven fours and six sixes.
KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik also dropped a sitter in the deep.
When Pandya was asked if wind and cold conditions posed a problem while fielding, he said: “No not that much. It was fine. In fact, it was good weather to play. As far as the wind is concerned, it wasn’t difficult to catch the ball so I guess it was absolutely fine.”
“Dropping catches is a part and parcel of the game. One day you might take a blinder like Siraj and then another day two catches (Dhoni and Karthik) get dropped as well. It’s just that you have to learn from every game,” he added.