‘He is yet to learn’ - Former Indian cricketer reveals why Umran Malik struggles in T20 cricket

After registering a series-levelling win over New Zealand in the 2nd T20I at Lucknow, Hardik Pandya-led Indian Team India will battle for white-ball supremacy in the third and final T20I against the visitors on Wednesday. India will lock horns with Mitchell Santner-led New Zealand in the 3rd T20I at the famous Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

India are heading to Ahmedabad after outclassing New Zealand in the low-scoring thriller at Lucknow. A spirited Indian side bounced back in the 2nd T20I by restricting New Zealand to a paltry score of 99-8 in 20 overs. While pacer Arshdeep Singh bagged a brace of wickets, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal took one wicket each in the thrilling contest. However, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has suggested a noteworthy change in the playing XI of the hosts. He backed Chahal to retain his place. Jaffer also made a bold statement about rising star Umran Malik.

“It would be better to have Yuzvendra Chahal as New Zealand struggle against spinners and if there is a wrist-spinner, India must utilize it. As I mentioned previously, Umran Malik struggles in T20 cricket. He is yet to learn the variations needed to succeed in this format. So, in that way, Chahal is a better option," Jaffer said on ESPNCricinfo.

I'm not concerned a lot about Ishan Kishan: Wasim Jaffer

He also said that Young batter Prithvi Shaw should play the final match instead of Shubman Gill as he is in good form and performed really well in domestic cricket as well, while Gill was extremely good in the ODI series but couldn’t continue that form in the T20I series.

"If India consider a change, maybe Prithvi Shaw could come in for Shubman Gill because he is in a good form and is better suited for T20 cricket. But otherwise, I'm not concerned a lot about Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tripathi," he added.

Guiding India to a six-wicket win over New Zealand at Lucknow, Suryakumar Yadav played the match-winning knock of 26 off 31 balls. The top-ranked T20I batter was also named the Player of the Match for his batting heroics. India will hope to record a famous double over New Zealand after hammering the visitors 3-0 in the One Day Internationals (ODIs). Interestingly, the Black Caps are yet to win a bilateral series of any format in India.