'Hardik Pandya Was Not Smart': Former Pakistan Player Castigates Indian Skipper Hardik Pandya

New Zealand opener Devon Conway scored 52 off 35 balls and Daryl Mitchell made an unbeaten 59, helping Kiwis post 176/6. In reply, India scored 155/9, with Washington scoring a brilliant half-century.

Hardik Pandya in action. ( Image Source :Getty )

The Indian team lost the opening match of the three-match T20I series against New Zealand in Ranchi on Friday. India failed to continue their winning run after sealing the ODI series by 3-0. The Black Caps won the match by 21 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Post India’s defeat former Pakistan star Danish Kaneria was disappointed with the skipper Hardik Pandya. 

"Hardik Pandya was not smart with his rotation of bowlers. He brought Shivam Mavi into the attack very late. He should have been brought in early. He could have also used Deepak Hooda a bit more, given the amount of turn that was on offer. This is where Hardik missed a trick or two, tactically. He didn't seem to have any plans," Kaneria said on his YouTube channel.

According to Kaneria, Hardik didn't bowl well with the new ball. 

"The Indian bowlers leaked a lot of runs. Hardik Pandya didn't bowl well with the new ball. He did not hit the right areas and conceded 33 runs in his three overs," he added.

New Zealand opener Devon Conway scored 52 off 35 balls and Daryl Mitchell made an unbeaten 59, helping Kiwis post 176/6. In reply, India scored 155/9, with Washington Sundar scoring a brilliant half-century. Suryakumar Yadav (47) and Hardik Pandya (21) also built a partnership of 68.

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

Squads:

India: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jitesh Sharma, Mukesh Kumar, Prithvi Shaw.

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway(w), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy, Michael Rippon, Dane Cleaver, Henry Shipley, Ben Lister.