In the opening T20I against New Zealand, Team India secured a commanding win by 48 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Following the match, Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh shared his approach to the game. “I strive to enjoy every moment on the field. I stay prepared, and when given a chance, I focus on delivering my best. Some elements are beyond my control, so I relish each game,” he remarked.
He also confirmed that the current bowling lineup will represent the ‘Men in Blue’ in the upcoming World Cup, stating, “The team has been finalized, and this is our bowling attack for the World Cup.”
In the match, opener Abhishek Sharma played a sensational innings, scoring 84 runs off just 35 balls, including five fours and eight sixes. Arshdeep expressed his excitement about Abhishek’s performance, saying, “He’s been in fantastic form, and it’s thrilling to see. I hope he continues this momentum in the remaining T20I matches against the Black Caps.”
Despite a valiant effort from Glenn Phillips, who scored a brisk 78 runs off 40 balls, New Zealand fell short while chasing a hefty target of 239 runs. Axar Patel claimed the crucial wicket of Phillips in the 14th over. Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner added 28 and 20 runs, respectively, but New Zealand concluded their innings at 190/7, losing by 48 runs.
Arshdeep Singh (1/31), Hardik Pandya (1/20), Axar Patel (1/42), Varun Chakaravarthy (2/37), and Shivam Dube (2/28) contributed to India’s impressive bowling effort. With this victory, India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
(With ANI Inputs)