India will be looking to bounce back when they take on New Zealand in the second T20I in Lucknow on Sunday.
The hosts lost the first match by 21 runs and will be looking to deliver a much better performance in this game. Most of the pacers were taken to the cleaners and the batting failed to deliver under pressure. Washington Sundar delivered a smashing performance, though. He bowled a superb spell of 4-0-22-2 and then scored a fifty from just 28 deliveries to get India close to the target as well. India couldn’t win the match, but it surely served as a great confidence booster for him.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will be looking to seal the series here. The opening pair of Devon Conway and Finn Allen delivered a superb performance, whereas middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell top-scored with 59 as well. The bowlers had an excellent outing as well. Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson picked up a couple of wickets each. Jacob Duffy and Ish Sodhi picked up a wicket each as well. They kept the Indian batters under pressure right from the beginning and will be looking to do the same in this match.
Probable Playing XIs
India
Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand
Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner
Top Picks
Washington Sundar: The all-rounder picked up two wickets and also scored a fifty in the first T20I match. He will be looking to deliver an equally good performance here.
Mitchell Santner: The New Zealand skipper bowled a superb spell of 4-1-11-2 in the last game. He put the Indian batters under pressure in the middle-overs and killed the chase there.
Prediction
India lost the first T20I but they are expected to come up with an improved performance in this game. They can be backed to win this match and level the series.
