India grabbed a 2-1 series-clinching victory vs New Zealand in the third T20I of the three-match series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 235 runs, New Zealand were bowled out for 66 runs in 12.1 overs. The Men in Blue created a new record for their highest-ever victory by margins of runs in the shortest format.
The team was led by superstar allrounder Hardik Pandya in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both Rohit and Kohli have missed all the T20I matches India has played after last year’s 20-20 World Cup in which the Men in Blue were humbled by England in the semi-final. However, that didn’t affect the Indian team as the bowlers are performing extraordinarily in every series. Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja was also delighted with India’s bowling performance but at the same time, he made a huge remark and said that India made their bowling structure like Pakistan’s.
“I often feel India took a look at Pakistan and designed their bowling attack the same way. Umran Malik has pace just like Haris Rauf, and Arshdeep brings the left-arm angle like Shaheen Afridi. Wasim Jr. chips in during the middle-overs and so does Hardik Pandya, both have the same pace as well. Shivam Mavi also plays the role of a supporting bowler,” Ramiz said on his official YouTube channel.
“India’s spin department is a bit better than Pakistan. I always look at what Pakistan need to improve whenever I see both sides playing,” the former PCB chairman further said.
Outstanding performance by the Indian youngsters
Talking about India’s fast bowling, skipper Pandya is leading from the front and bowling with the new ball. Speedster Umran Malik is breathing fire these days and clinching crucial wickets too. Arshdeep Singh seemed to be in trouble as he was giving too many extras, but he made a comeback in the last match of the series and picked up 2 wickets in just 2 overs.
Talking about the batters, the youngsters have shown promise but they haven’t been able to put in consistent performances like the legends they are replacing, which have put Team India in a spot of bother on various occasions. Ishan Kishan was out of form throughout the T20I series, while Shubman Gill couldn’t provide anything in the first two matches but smashed a sensational hundred in the final match of the series.
