India were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs in the chase of 216.
Team India went with the combination of six batters and five specialist bowlers in the penultimate T20I against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday (January 28).
However, the move backfired as the Kiwis racked up a formidable 215/7 on the board and then bundle out the Men in Blue for just 165 in 18.4 overs to secure a thumping 50-run victory.
India’s decision to replace Ishan Kishan, who had a niggle, with left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh raised a few eyebrows. While speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, skipper Suryakumar Yadav explained the rationale citing that India purposely played six batters.
“I feel we purposely played six batters today. We wanted to have five perfect bowlers and wanted to challenge ourselves. Like for example, if we’re chasing 200 or 180, and we wanted to see if we were two down or three down, how does it look? But then it’s fine at the end of the day. And we wanted to play all the players who are part of the World Cup squad. Otherwise, we would have played other ones," Suryakumar said.
The captain was also asked about his decision to bowl first in the fourth T20I, especially when India secured the series by chasing down targets in the second and third games.
In response, Suryakumar stated that the hosts wanted to challenge themselves in the chase of 180-200 runs and see how they perform when 2-3 wickets fall early in the innings.
He even went on to add that if he wins the toss in the fifth and final T20I, he might opt to field first again.
“We’ve been batting really well when we’ve batted first. So I wanted the guys to take that responsibility if we’re chasing 180 or 200 and two wickets or three wickets are down and see how we bat. So it’s a good challenge. Hopefully if we get an opportunity again, we might chase again," Yadav remarked.
Shivam Dube played a stunning knock in the chase, hitting 65 runs from just 23 balls with 3 fours and 7 sixes. The southpaw reached his half-century off only 15 balls.
Suryakumar was effusive in praise for Dube’s knock and said that one batter with him would have made a lot of difference.
“The way Dube batted, one batter with him would have made a lot of difference at the end of the game. I think 50 runs; we lost by 50 runs. But it’s okay. As I said, one or two partnerships like this in a run-chase like this might make a difference,” he concluded.
The series finale will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (January 31).