After comprehensively winning the first T20 in Delhi, India will take on New Zealand in the second T20 at Rajkot today.
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While the last match was pretty much all about Ashish Nehra, the Delhi pacer would have been more pleased to see his side perform the way they did.
The brilliant opening duo of Rohit and Dhawan were at it again as the pair put on a record opening partnership to set up the match.
Kohli and Dhoni provided the finishing touches as India went past 200 for the first time against the Kiwis in a T20 match.
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Then it was the turn of the Indian bowlers as Nehra, Bumrah and Bhuvi were exceptional as usual. Chahal seems to be getting better day by day and even Pandya chipped in a wicket to wrap up a wonderful day for team India.
As the focus shifts to the 2nd T20, New Zealand must be wary of the threat that the Indian team possesses. Before coming to India, the Kiwis were renowned as a brilliant T20 side and they will want to recapture some of that reputation in the next couple of matches.
The failure at the top of innings has been a big issue for the Kiwis as Guptil and Munroe have had miserable tours so far. Even Williamson has not lit up the series and done justice to his enormous reputation.
In the bowling department, Boult and Southee were smashed all over the ground last time around. These two well established stars need to strike up front for the Kiwis if they need to be successful in today’s match!
SQUADS:
India: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Colin Munro, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee
