New Delhi [India] : Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has explained the “critical” point where Team India went wrong on Sunday against New Zealand in the ongoing T20 World Cup. New Zealand produced a stunning bowling display to beat India by eight wickets and get their campaign up and running. “From the ball one, the bowling changes of Williamson were top notch. The planning was good and in the first six overs we were 35/2 and from those 35 runs the 20 came in five overs,” said Tendulkar in his Facebook video. “After six overs till 10th over we only scored 13 runs, so according to me that was a critical point where we missed out on capitalising. Those easy singles were not available and that forced our batters to play the big shot,” he added. Both India and New Zealand had lost their opening Super 12s matches to Pakistan and came into this one knowing that defeat would leave their hopes of reaching the semi-final hanging by a thread. But New Zealand got off to a great start and picked early wickets to put India on the back foot. At 48 for four, India were in all sorts of trouble and while Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya consolidated, they did so at the expense of the scoring rate as India went 71 balls without a boundary. “When Pant came into bat, immediately spinners end was changed by Williamson. Again a smart move. All in all, I felt India was playing a catching of game because how New Zealand dominated the game it was a tough time for India batsmen which forced them to play the big shot,” said the former Indian batsman. Tendulkar also praised Williamson and termed him a “rock” which has protected the Kiwis. “Then Daryl Mitchell and Williamson stitched an important stand. Williamson is like a rock for the New Zealand team if he is on a wicket he controls the game well. Mitchell played some decent shots and rotated the strikes,” said Tendulkar. India, meanwhile, are now relying on other results if they are to make the semi-finals, with a clash against Afghanistan next up in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
T20 WC: McCullum praises Williamson’s ‘superb’ captaincy after New Zealand’s win
Dubai [UAE] : Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum was left impressed with the Kiwis’ performance against India in the T20 World Cup on Sunday. New Zealand produced a stunning bowling display to beat India by eight wickets and get their campaign up and running. Both India and New Zealand had lost their opening Super 12s matches to Pakistan and came into this one knowing that defeat would leave their hopes of reaching the semi-final hanging by a thread. McCullum praised skipper Kane Williamson for his captaincy against India and said the win has now put the New Zealand World Cup campaign back on track. “Professional performance full of planning and intent from the @BLACKCAPS v @BCCI today. World Cup campaign on track. Balanced bowling line up and superb tactically from the skipper,” McCullum tweeted. Coming to the match, Trent Boult started the carnage, eventually finishing with figures of three for 20, and as Indian batters picked out the fielders on the boundary with regularity, they were only able to make 110 for seven. India had brought in Ishan Kishan and Shardul Thakur, with the former promoted to open, but he was Boult’s first victim, clipping the ball off his toes straight down the throat of Mitchell for four. In reply, New Zealand registered an easy win as they chased down the target in the 15th over. India, meanwhile, are now relying on other results if they are to make the semi-finals, with a clash against Afghanistan next up in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
