India will aim to clinch the series albeit with a more impactful batting show from the middle-order in the second T20 match against New Zealand at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday.
Coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma have hit the right chord at the beginning of their partnership with an emphatic victory in the first match against their nemesis. There couldn't be a better start for them than a series win against the Black Caps which helped the ‘Men in Blue’ end their seven-match losing streak across formats.
A Superlative top-order batting and controlled bowling propelled India to a five-wicket victory over the Kiwis in the first match of the series and the hosts would like to continue the momentum and close the deal in Ranchi.
In absence of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav made full use of the opportunity at number three with a match-winning half century (62, 42 balls). However, the middle over is still a concern as Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant's scratchy batting slightly messed up the chase. Iyer looked a bit rusty and struggled to rotate strikes after a long break.
Superb bowling performances by experienced bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin were also big positives in the match. Both the bowlers hit the right areas and made lives difficult for the Kiwi batsmen. India were also brilliant at the death and conceded just 41 runs with three wickets.
The lower middle-order may also become a cause of concern for skipper Rohit as it remains to be seen if he is tempted to tinker in the batting line-up. Having already committed to give his players a long rope, it is unlikely that Rohit will disturb the batting line-up just after one game.
However, there could be a forced change in the bowling line-up as Indian pacer Mohammad Siraj has suffered a split left webbing after being hit by Mitchell Santner in the final over of the New Zealand innings.
With heavy dew likely to become a factor towards the evening, toss could play a crucial role in a must-win match for the touring team.