NAPIER: A drastic change in approach is need of the hour for India but question remains if the likes of Umran Malik and Sanju Samson will be tested in third and final T20 against New Zealand here on Tuesday.
India were expected to try out a bunch of players after another World Cup debacle but if the team combination for the second T20 was any indication, they seemed reluctant to start with a clean slate.
Take out the individual brilliance of Suryakumar Yadav, the team would have struggled to post 160 on Sunday, a grim reminder of its travails in the World Cup Down Under.
India's powerplay approach has been a major concern. Rishabh Pant was tried at the top with Ishan Kishan in the second game but the move did not work. Considering Pant's class, one can expect him to fire in the series-decider.
Samson is another batter who can make instant impact but the team did not start with him.
Going by skipper Hardik Pandya's post match comments, the management is unlikely to make too many changes for the third T20. India lead the series 1-0 with the series opener washed out.
"I don't know (about changes for the next game). I'd like to give everyone in the squad a chance but it's just one more game, so it's a bit tough," said Hardik, who is seen as the next full captain in the shortest format.
Shubman Gill was in the running for opening too in the absence of senior players but the team went ahead with two left-handers. He is likely to get his chances only in the ODI series to follow.
Pandya is keen on having more batters who can bowl in the playing eleven and Deepak Hooda has given him one option.
However, the biggest disappointment was the non-inclusion of Umran Malik in the first game. It has been proved that there is a pressing needed for an out and out pace bowler in T20 cricket and the New Zealand series is crucial to the development of the Jammu and Kashmir-based tearaway pacer.
In Jasprit Bumrah's absence, Malik, who played three T20s earlier this year, should be exposed to the pressure of playing a top team and given a long run.
Playing his first game in a while, Yuzvendra Chahal showed why he should be a regular in the team but fellow wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav might only get to play the ODIs.
Facing a must win scenario, New Zealand will take the field without their skipper Kane Williamson who will miss the game to due to a pre-arranged medical appointment.
In his absence, the team will rely even more on opener Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips down the order to put the opposition under pressure.
1/10:2nd T20I: New Zealand succumb to Suryakumar Yadav's ton
AP
2/10:Suryakumar Yadav
<p>Suryakumar Yadav steered India to a 65-run win against New Zealand in the second Twenty20 International on Sunday.</p>AFP
3/10:SKY is the limit
<p>Suryakumar struck an imperious 111 not out off just 51 balls as India posted 191-6 at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval. </p>AP
4/10:New Zealand all out
<p>New Zealand were skittled for 126 in the 19th over, handing India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.</p>AFP
5/10:Ishan Kishan
<p>Opener Ishan Kishan provided the next-highest Indian score with 36 off 31.</p>AFP
6/10:2nd T20I ton for SKY
<p>Suryakumar raised three figures while taking 22 runs off the penultimate over bowled by Lockie Ferguson.</p>AFP
7/10:Tim Southee
<p>Tim Southee claimed his second career hat-trick in the final over, dismissing Indian captain Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda and Washington Sundar.</p>AFP
8/10:Bhuvneshwar Kumar
<p>New Zealand's run chase struggled from the moment opener Finn Allen holed out on the second delivery off Bhuvneshwar Kumar.</p>AFP
9/10:Kane Williamson
<p>Captain Kane Williamson top-scored with 61 off 52 but his struggle for timing was mirrored by his teammates.</p>AFP
10/10:Deepak Hooda
<p>Spinner Deepak Hooda took 4-10 off 2.5 overs, claiming the last three scalps in the space of four balls.</p>APThe home bowlers leaked way too many runs in the death overs and they will be looking to correct that. New Zealand will also have to find a way to stop Surya, who is in the form of his life.
"Suryakumar played an in incredible innings out there. Everyone watched in amazement, some of the shots be played. We have had a few discussions already and we will have few more tomorrow before the game around how to combat him," said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead.
Squads:
India: Hardik Pandya (c), Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (c), Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Mark Chapman
