India skipper Hardik Pandya expressed his shock over the pitch served for the first T20I match against New Zealand in Ranchi on Friday (January 27).

The Indian batters failed to negotiate the Kiwi spinners and suffered a comprehensive 21-run defeat to go 1-0 down in the three-match series.

Chasing 177 to win, India’s innings was restricted to 155/9 in 20 overs. While the likes of Suryakumar Yadav (47 off 34 balls) and Washington Sundar (50 off 28 balls) produced good knocks, they couldn’t take the hosts over the line.

“No one even thought that the wicket would play like that and both teams were surprised. But they played better cricket on this and that's why the result end up like that. Actually the new ball was turning more than the old one and the way it spun, way it bounced, it caught us by surprise," Hardik said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“But somehow we pulled it back and were in the game till Surya and myself were batting,” he added.

Earlier, the visitors rode on half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell (59* off 30 balls) and Devon Conway (52 off 35 balls) to post 176/6 on the board. Washington Sundar was the stand-out bowler for India, claiming two wickets by conceding 22 runs in his four overs.

According to the Indian captain, they conceded 20-25 runs too many and he also praised Sundar’s all-round display in the match.

“On hindsight, I don't think this wicket was 177, we were poor with the ball and conceded 20-25 runs. It is a young group and we will only learn from this,” Pandya stated.

“The way he [Washington Sundar] bowled, batted and fielded, it was Washington against New Zealand today. We needed someone who can bat and bowl, gives us a lot of confidence and it will help us going forward,” he concluded.

The second T20I between India and New Zealand will be played in Lucknow on Sunday (January 29).

(With Cricbuzz Inputs)