RANCHI: India allrounder Washington Sundar termed their defeat to New Zealand in the first T20I as a "one-off" defeat. Sundar also backed the Men in Blue to bounce back in the series. The second T20I will be played at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, in Lucknow, on Sunday.
Chasing an competitive 177, India's top-three, including in-form Shubman Gill (7) were dismissed for just 15 runs inside 19 balls, making the task difficult for the remaining batters with the home team settling for 155 for 9, handing New Zealand a 21-run win, their first victory of the tour on Friday night.
New Zealand were swept 0-3 in the preceding ODI series by India before the new-look home side under Hardik Pandya took over for the T20 leg.
"I think it was just a one-off game," said Washington, who scored a quickfire 28-ball 50, besides returning with tidy figures of 2/22.
"I don't think that just because it was spinning so much, we have to address anything. Just that one-off game. Had we got off to a flier or a better start, things would've been much different. Obviously, it did spin, and you will see such wickets here and there.
"...people over here and players in our team have played on such wickets in the IPL and even in the Indian team. So, just that one-off game where certain things didn't go our way," he added.
WILL YOU STOP GOING TO A RESTAURANT, IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR FAVOURITE BIRYANI?
But his responses seemed "unconvincing" for a journalist, who went on to probe further and asked whether they should "change" their top order.
1/10:'Spin shock' as New Zealand beat India in T20I opener
AFP
2/10:New Zealand beat India
<p>Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell hit quickfire fifties to set up a 21-run victory for New Zealand in the first T20I against India on Friday. </p>ANI
3/10:Devon Conway
<p>Conway made 52 off 35 balls and Mitchell smashed an unbeaten 59 as the Kiwis posted 176-6 after being invited to bat first in Ranchi. </p>AFP
4/10:Kiwis take 1-0 lead
<p>New Zealand then restricted India to 155-9 and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. </p>ANI
5/10:Mitchell Santner
<p>Skipper Mitchell Santner stood out with figures of 2-11 while Michael Bracewell and Lockie Ferguson also took two wickets each. </p>AFP
6/10:Finn Allen
<p>The Black Caps started strongly after being invited to bat first, with Finn Allen striking four fours and two sixes in a brisk 35. </p>ANI
7/10:Washington Sundar
<p>Washington Sundar cut short Allen's stay as the batsman mistimed a hit to deep mid-wicket.</p>PTI
8/10:Sundar strikes
<p>Sundar struck again to get Mark Chapman caught and bowled for nought. </p>PTI
9/10:Conway carnage
<p>Conway took his time before he changed gears and smashed tearaway quick Umran Malik for two fours and a six in the eighth over. </p>IANS
10/10:Kuldeep Yadav
<p>Conway kept up the charge with Glenn Phillips as the pair put on 60 before Kuldeep Yadav broke through with the wicket of Phillips for 17. </p>ANIThis time, the youngster was at his wittiest best.
"Do you really think a change is needed? If you don't get your favourite biryani in one of the restaurants, you will never go to that restaurant?"
"All of them have made so many runs. It's just one day. It happens to anyone -- even New Zealand collapsed in Raipur (108 all out in 34.3 overs in the second ODI)," Washington said.
"It did not mean they had to change their top order. It's a game where anything can happen. We will have to be patient. At the end of the day, it's a sport where both teams cannot win and all 22 players cannot perform. All of them have done well to get to this stage."
The 23-year-old backed left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who registered poor figures of 4-0-51-1 and young pace sensation Umran Malik, who conceded 16 runs in the only over he bowled during New Zealand's innings.
"He (Arshdeep) has taken so many wickets -- for India and in the IPL. We are also human beings, we also want to play the sport. When the competition is very high, and the opposition is of the highest quality such things can happen," Washington said in support of his teammate.
"The way he (Malik) bowled against Sri Lanka and New Zealand (in ODIs) that's why we all know he's here. He's an X-factor, someone who bowls above 150 consistently and that's a rare quality."
Washington went on to hail the team management under head coach Rahul Dravid.
"...also with this management, they are very calm and patient, keen as long as we are learning from all the mistakes, that's an amazing quality. Going forward, we will be a very very strong side," he said.
He also praised Kiwi all-rounder Daryl Mitchell for his unbeaten 59 off 30 balls, which eventually made the difference.
"Obviously, Daryl's innings was very crucial for them. Around 150 would be par, we would have been very happy with that. But he made the difference by actually getting a half-century for himself," he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
