India's top-order failed miserably in the opening T20I against New Zealand.
Chasing 177 to win, the Men in Blue lost Shubman Gill (7), Ishan Kishan (4), Rahul Tripathi (0) cheaply and were left reeling at 15/3 inside the powerplay.
While the likes of Suryakumar Yadav (47 off 34 balls) and Washington Sundar (50 off 28 balls) produced good knocks, they couldn’t take India over the line.
Speaking after the game, India all-rounder Washington Sundar termed the loss as a "one-off" defeat and backed the hosts to bounce back in the three-match series.
"I think it was just a one-off game," he said in the post-match press conference. "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," added Sundar, who returned with tidy figures of 2 for 22 in his four overs.
When a journalist asked whether India should "change" their top order, the all-rounder replied: "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)."
"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."
Washington Sundar backed left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who recorded poor figures of 4-0-51-1 and pace sensation Umran Malik, who conceded 16 runs in the only over he bowled.
"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," Sundar stated.
"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."
He also praised the Indian 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," Sundar said.
The second T20I will be played in Lucknow on Sunday (January 29).
(With PTI Inputs)