Is there any target that Virat Kohli and Co. can’t gun down? Not really. The Men in Blue on Friday made a 204-target look like a cakewalk against New Zealand in Auckland.
First KL Rahul and skipper Kohli hammered the New Zealand bowlers all around the park and later Shreyas Iyer took the charge to guide India home with 6 balls left and 6 wickets in hands. Here’s a look at the five Indian players who can unleash another success story for the team on Sunday at the same venue.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma was sent packing by Mitchell Santner for just 7 off 6 deliveries but the vice-captain still looked confident for whatever the time he was in. Sharma has been in good form for quite some time and this rare failure in the first T20I might combine and help him take on the Kiwi bowlers on Sunday.
KL Rahul
In the present scenario, there is really nothing that KL Rahul can’t do. He has opened the innings (T20Is) and has been successful, he has kept the wickets and has been brilliant and has also batted at number five (ODIs) and has done reasonably good at the spot.
And once Rahul showed his class on Friday when he chipped in with a 27-ball 56 to give India a strong start to the chase. Rahul put a 99-run partnership with captain Virat Kohli for the second before getting out to Ish Sodhi.
Virat Kohli
The India skipper Virat Kohli has been in fine touch. On Friday, the chase-master once again showed his ability and smacked 45 off 32 to lead the charge from the front.
Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer has certainly solved the problem of the number 4 slot in the playing XI. After a couple of failures, Iyer on Friday took the onus on himself and guided India home. The right-handed batsman struck 58* off just 29 deliveries. If he continues this form, Iyer would play an important role for the side in this series.
Jasprit Bumrah
While the others were being hit for boundaries in Auckland on Friday, Jasprit Bumrah was someone who resisted well against the Blackcaps batting line up. He just gave 31 runs in allotted 4 overs at an economy of 7.75 and picked up the wicket of wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert. Bumrah’s economical bowling makes him enter this list for the next encounter.
The Indian team management would be looking to create a balanced team keeping the World T20 in mind and this series is going to play a crucial role in the process.
