IND vs NZ 1st T20I: Lack of partnerships cost us the game, says Rohit Sharma

A disappointed stand-in India skipper Rohit Sharma felt the lack of partnerships hurt his side's chances during the run chase

India’s worst-ever T20I defeat to New Zealand on Wednesday has massively hurt stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma. After thumping the Kiwi hosts in the recently concluded ODI series, the men in blue failed to click both with the bat and the ball they were bundled out for 139 runs while chasing a mammoth 220-run target.

After the humiliating loss, Rohit asserted that lack of partnerships ended his side's chances during the run chase.

Speaking at the post-match press-conference, Rohit said, “It was a tough game. We were outplayed in all three departments. We didn't start well and we knew that 200 wasn't going to be an easy chase although the grounds are small here.”

“But we kept losing wickets and that threw us off. We have chased such targets in the past and that is why we played with eight batsmen, but we didn't have small partnerships and that made it tough while chasing such a big target,” he added.

Rohit however, was hopeful that they would be able to rectify their mistakes in the remaining matches as his side was capable of hunting down big targets.

“As a team, we have been good at chasing down targets which is why we play with eight batsmen. We believe that whatever the target is in front of us we can chase it down, but we just couldn't do it tonight," expressed the stand-in India skipper.

Both the sides will now face-off in the second match of the series on Friday.