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India Vs New Zealand
The second One-day International between India and New Zealand was abandoned due to persistent rain here on Sunday. New Zealand inserted India to bat after winning the toss but only 12.5 overs could be possible as twice the game had to be stopped due to rain. The game could not resume after the second rain-forced break when India were 89 for one in 12.5 overs. India lost Shikhar Dhawan (3) before Shubman Gill (45) and Suryakumar Yadav (34) added 66 runs for the second wicket. Rain first stopped play when India were 22 for no loss. New Zealand are leading the series 1-0, having won the Auckland ODI by seven wickets. The final match of the series will be played on Wednesday in Christchurch.
Play resumed in the second ODI between India and New Zealand but the match has been reduced to 29-overs-a-side after a four-hour rain delay, here on Sunday. The match was stopped when India were 22 for no loss in 4.5 overs. As per the changed conditions, there would be just a 10-minute break between the two innings and no drinks break will be taken.
The start of the third and final T20 International between India and New Zealand was delayed due to rain here on Tuesday. The toss was pushed back due to a drizzle. India lead the three-match series 1-0. The first T20I between the two sides was washed out while the second match had also been halted for about 30 minutes owing to rain. India are also scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against the hosts, starting Friday.
Having not learned from their mistakes, India will aim to shed their archaic playing style for good with the help of a "young and fearless" bunch in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, beginning here on Friday. After the World Cup debacle in the UAE last year, India did adopt an aggressive batting approach but by the time the next edition came knocking, the top-order was found wanting and failed to take the attack to the opposition. India found themselves running in circles as the wait for their first ICC trophy in nine years got longer. With the next T20 global event two years away, India have enough time to identify and groom the players for an attack-at-all costs approach displayed by England. Hardik Pandya, who could lead the team in the next T20 showpiece, will be captaining the side in Rohit Sharma's absence. Stand-in head coach VVS Laxman has indicated that the management will be keen to add only T20 specialists to meet the requirement of the modern game. Thoug
Stand-in T20I skipper Hardik Pandya on Wednesday said the road map for 2024 T20 World Cup starts now, adding that going forward a lot of players will be given chances to stake their claim in the side. India's 2022 T20 World Cup hopes ended with a 10-wicket defeat against eventual champions England in the semifinals. Pandya, who will be leading India in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting Friday, said the team needs to overcome from their World Cup failure. "Yes, we all know there is disappointment of the World Cup but we are professionals and we need to cope with it. How we cope with our success we cope up with our failures and move forward and look forward to get better rectify our mistakes," Pandya told reporters. The next T20 World Cup will be played in 2024 in the West Indies and United States and the Indian squad is expected to undergo a major transition in the next two years with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma among others being gradually ease
Stand-in head coach VVS Laxman on Thursday said India will be looking to pack the side with T20 specialists as it seeks course correction after yet another World Cup failure. England, who won their second T20 World Cup title in Australia on Sunday, have set the benchmark with their fearless brand of cricket. They bat till number 11 and in the final against Pakistan, they had as many as seven bowling options even in the absence of lead pacer Mark Wood. Speaking to media ahead of the New Zealand limited overs tour, Laxman said multi-dimensional players are the need of the hour in T20 cricket. "In white ball cricket, you need specialist players and going forward, in T20 cricket, you will see a lot more T20 specialists. T20 cricket has shown us over the years that you need multi-dimensional cricketers," said the current NCA chief ahead of the opening T20I on Friday. "We have bowlers who can bat and batters who can bowl. More number of bowlers who can bat allows the team to have depth