🏏New Zealand vs India : 1st T20I: VCA Stadium, Nagpur on 21/01/26🏏 - Page 23

Mitch Santner | New Zealand captain: Yeah, I think it was. Looking forward, obviously, like you said, you want to win the game. It was a good day for us. India is a very good team at home. We knew that. Yeah, their record the last two years is outstanding. And, yeah, it was a good game for us. (on bowling Mitchell for the last over) No, it's just how our balance worked out. I think, yeah, I think the way that the inning was put up, the spinners on the pressure, it looked like cutters were holding in the first innings. I think, you know, Kristian Clarke on debut, bowling those quick spinners looked quite tough to handle. It was just, yeah, I think four out in the last over for anyone, it's always a bit hard.on Duffy) But yeah, I think he's shown his class over the last few years for us. He's kind of taken that senior bowling role for us and cleans it up top of the mark, I think, going forward, the way you want to slow these guys down to take wickets.

Originally posted by: missFiesty_69

Dropped catches, some costly overs mid innings. Dropped catches hurt us the most! Matlab hadd hai, people claim India as one of the best teams in the world and our fielding efforts are very bad. Kiwis and Aussies have really good fielding which is why they win a lot of matches. I’m not saying they don’t have talent but fielding is given a lot of importance. I wish we did too.

I hope our fielding improves, fielding coach needs to be strict and players need to be serious too. See how Rinku said nothing to worry about when asked about drop catch ugh.

Suryakumar Yadav, India captain: Always good when we bat first, put on runs and defend with dew. All batters played their roles very well, which was a plus point. I felt good when I went into bat. I've been batting well in the nets. It was a matter of continuing that and not changing my identity. Last 2-3 weeks, I've been hitting it well. Fingers crossed for Abhishek doing well. The way he prepares himself and carries himself is great, nice to see it flowing on here.

Suryakumar Yadav | India captain: I think it's always good when we get those numbers on the board, and if there's a little bit of dew on the board, I think that's a big positive. And the way we batted, even after when we were put under pressure in the powerplay, we were 25-2, and then we took the game till the 15th over, and then we never stopped all the batters. (eight batters and three strike bowlers, is this the way going forward?) I mean, it looks good. It's been working for me as a team, and so if it's working, let's continue with that. (on his batting) I mean, I felt good when I went into bat. It was perfect time for me to go into bat. Good pressure situation. I've been batting in that situation. And as I said earlier as well, I've been batting really well in the nets. It was just a matter of time when you play a few balls, bat the way I bat. And that doesn't change my identity.I think it came naturally. I mean, whatever strokes I played, I've been practicing really well in the last 2-3 weeks. I'm at it similarly during the net session. Played a few practice games as well. So I was feeling good. (on the fielding) Yeah, I think with such a heavy dew, a few lines here and there, I mean, I'm just supporting my fielders. But yeah, I mean, we keep improving that one department. We try and improve always when we take on the field. So very happy with the effort from the boys. (on Abhishek) I mean, the way he prepares, I mean, it's not just how he bats in the games, but the way he prepares himself, the way he carries himself, when he's in the hotel, in the team bus. I think all those things, small small things, it reflects on the ground and he is enjoying those fruits of that.

Suryakumar Yadav | India captain: I think it's always good when we get those numbers on the board, and if there's a little bit of dew on the board, I think that's a big positive. And the way we batted, even after when we were put under pressure in the powerplay, we were 25-2, and then we took the game till the 15th over, and then we never stopped all the batters. (eight batters and three strike bowlers, is this the way going forward?) I mean, it looks good. It's been working for me as a team, and so if it's working, let's continue with that. (on his batting) I mean, I felt good when I went into bat. It was perfect time for me to go into bat. Good pressure situation. I've been batting in that situation. And as I said earlier as well, I've been batting really well in the nets. It was just a matter of time when you play a few balls, bat the way I bat. And that doesn't change my identity. I think it came naturally. I mean, whatever strokes I played, I've been practicing really well in the last 2-3 weeks. I'm at it similarly during the net session. Played a few practice games as well. So I was feeling good. (on the fielding) Yeah, I think with such a heavy dew, a few lines here and there, I mean, I'm just supporting my fielders. But yeah, I mean, we keep improving that one department. We try and improve always when we take on the field. So very happy with the effort from the boys. (on Abhishek) I mean, the way he prepares, I mean, it's not just how he bats in the games, but the way he prepares himself, the way he carries himself, when he's in the hotel, in the team bus. I think all those things, small small things, it reflects on the ground and he is enjoying those fruits of that.

Suryakumar Yadav | India captain: I think it's always good when we get those numbers on the board, and if there's a little bit of dew on the board, I think that's a big positive. And the way we batted, even after when we were put under pressure in the powerplay, we were 25-2, and then we took the game till the 15th over, and then we never stopped all the batters.
(eight batters and three strike bowlers, is this the way going forward?) I mean, it looks good. It's been working for me as a team, and so if it's working, let's continue with that.

(on his batting) I mean, I felt good when I went into bat. It was perfect time for me to go into bat. Good pressure situation. I've been batting in that situation. And as I said earlier as well, I've been batting really well in the nets. It was just a matter of time when you play a few balls, bat the way I bat. And that doesn't change my identity. I think it came naturally. I mean, whatever strokes I played, I've been practicing really well in the last 2-3 weeks. I'm at it similarly during the net session. Played a few practice games as well. So I was feeling good.

(on the fielding) Yeah, I think with such a heavy dew, a few lines here and there, I mean, I'm just supporting my fielders. But yeah, I mean, we keep improving that one department. We try and improve always when we take on the field. So very happy with the effort from the boys.

Abhishek Sharma | Player of the Match: I haven't noticed, but he was talking about it. Still, it's just the, you know, the things we've been following from day one that we had a plan that we want to play this kind of cricket and that's what we are just following it. (on his six-hitting) I think, sir, one thing I've figured that if you want to hit all the balls properly, if you want to play at the striking of 200 or something, that you have to be, you know, carrying that intent and you have to practice a lot for that. Because if you see all these teams, they always have a plan for me. So far, I think it's just not the fielding, it's all about the pitching and the bowling as well. So it's about the week preparation I've been doing before the games, because I've got two, three days or maybe a week before this. So I knew in my mind that I'm gonna get challenged by these bowlers and I have this mind. But obviously, I'm gonna back my, you know, instincts and I've been practicing for about a long time. (is it a high-risk strategy to hit sixes?) I don't feel it's a high risk, but for me, it's, I feel this is my, I wouldn't say it's my comfort zone, but it's like I've always wanted to be in first because they want to give you the first six overs and that's what I've been practicing before the nets as well. And that was always in my mind if I do because if you see all the bowlers, all the main bowlers and you know, from all the teams, they bowl first, second, three overs probably. And if I get scores in the first three, four overs, then, you know, we have always got the upper hand. (do you range-hit?) No, if you see, I would never do a range inning because I'm not that strong kind of guy and you gotta ride the ball that way a long way. No, but it's just, I feel more off the timing. So, for me, I have to just watch the ball and you know, get used to the conditions because if you see, if we're playing all over the India right now and so I have to adapt the condition really quick. And for that, I plan a day before probably whether I get a net session. So, that's always in my mind because these gonna bowlers gonna bowl here and they got some plans, so I have to back in as well.(on choosing which ball to hit) I feel sir, still, if you watch videos or if you watch your batting videos as well, you get an idea that where the ball is gonna, you know, planning to bowl you or maybe where I'm gonna play my shots. But it's always about me backing my shots because I don't have a lot of shots. It's just a few shots I'm gonna practice a lot about that and I'll just execute it. (on fielding in the slips) I mean, of course, Shubman was the first choice for that, but obviously, I enjoy a lot of slip fielding and been working really hard with Dileep sir as well. Because he's the man who's really behind all our building, you know, efforts, and so credit goes to him.

Abhishek Sharma | Player of the Match: I haven't noticed, but he was talking about it. Still, it's just the, you know, the things we've been following from day one that we had a plan that we want to play this kind of cricket and that's what we are just following it.

on his six-hitting) I think, sir, one thing I've figured that if you want to hit all the balls properly, if you want to play at the striking of 200 or something, that you have to be, you know, carrying that intent and you have to practice a lot for that. Because if you see all these teams, they always have a plan for me. So far, I think it's just not the fielding, it's all about the pitching and the bowling as well. So it's about the week preparation I've been doing before the games, because I've got two, three days or maybe a week before this. So I knew in my mind that I'm gonna get challenged by these bowlers and I have this mind. But obviously, I'm gonna back my, you know, instincts and I've been practicing for about a long time.
(is it a high-risk strategy to hit sixes?) I don't feel it's a high risk, but for me, it's, I feel this is my, I wouldn't say it's my comfort zone, but it's like I've always wanted to be in first because they want to give you the first six overs and that's what I've been practicing before the nets as well. And that was always in my mind if I do because if you see all the bowlers, all the main bowlers and you know, from all the teams, they bowl first, second, three overs probably. And if I get scores in the first three, four overs, then, you know, we have always got the upper hand.

(do you range-hit?) No, if you see, I would never do a range inning because I'm not that strong kind of guy and you gotta ride the ball that way a long way. No, but it's just, I feel more off the timing. So, for me, I have to just watch the ball and you know, get used to the conditions because if you see, if we're playing all over the India right now and so I have to adapt the condition really quick. And for that, I plan a day before probably whether I get a net session. So, that's always in my mind because these gonna bowlers gonna bowl here and they got some plans, so I have to back in as well.

(on choosing which ball to hit) I feel sir, still, if you watch videos or if you watch your batting videos as well, you get an idea that where the ball is gonna, you know, planning to bowl you or maybe where I'm gonna play my shots. But it's always about me backing my shots because I don't have a lot of shots. It's just a few shots I'm gonna practice a lot about that and I'll just execute it.

Abhishek Sharma | Player of the Match: I haven't noticed, but he was talking about it. Still, it's just the, you know, the things we've been following from day one that we had a plan that we want to play this kind of cricket and that's what we are just following it. (on his six-hitting) I think, sir, one thing I've figured that if you want to hit all the balls properly, if you want to play at the striking of 200 or something, that you have to be, you know, carrying that intent and you have to practice a lot for that. Because if you see all these teams, they always have a plan for me. So far, I think it's just not the fielding, it's all about the pitching and the bowling as well. So it's about the week preparation I've been doing before the games, because I've got two, three days or maybe a week before this. So I knew in my mind that I'm gonna get challenged by these bowlers and I have this mind. But obviously, I'm gonna back my, you know, instincts and I've been practicing for about a long time. (is it a high-risk strategy to hit sixes?) I don't feel it's a high risk, but for me, it's, I feel this is my, I wouldn't say it's my comfort zone, but it's like I've always wanted to be in first because they want to give you the first six overs and that's what I've been practicing before the nets as well. And that was always in my mind if I do because if you see all the bowlers, all the main bowlers and you know, from all the teams, they bowl first, second, three overs probably. And if I get scores in the first three, four overs, then, you know, we have always got the upper hand. (do you range-hit?) No, if you see, I would never do a range inning because I'm not that strong kind of guy and you gotta ride the ball that way a long way. No, but it's just, I feel more off the timing. So, for me, I have to just watch the ball and you know, get used to the conditions because if you see, if we're playing all over the India right now and so I have to adapt the condition really quick. And for that, I plan a day before probably whether I get a net session. So, that's always in my mind because these gonna bowlers gonna bowl here and they got some plans, so I have to back in as well. (on choosing which ball to hit) I feel sir, still, if you watch videos or if you watch your batting videos as well, you get an idea that where the ball is gonna, you know, planning to bowl you or maybe where I'm gonna play my shots. But it's always about me backing my shots because I don't have a lot of shots. It's just a few shots I'm gonna practice a lot about that and I'll just execute it. (on fielding in the slips) I mean, of course, Shubman was the first choice for that, but obviously, I enjoy a lot of slip fielding and been working really hard with Dileep sir as well. Because he's the man who's really behind all our building, you know, efforts, and so credit goes to him.

So India flex their batting might and in such conditions and on such flat pitches, they are a side to be feared. That's why they will be on the big favorites to retain their World Cup when it happens next month in India and Sri Lanka. New Zealand though would be looking to fight back, they are a side who are missing Finn Allen and Tim Seifert and once that duo join them, they will be quite a side too.

India take a 1-0 series lead with a comprehensive win. It was built on batting intent more than anything. How will New Zealand bounce back?