Former India captain Kris Srikkanth believes that the team management should reconsider playing big names like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. This comes after all-rounder Axar Patel sustained an injury to his finger during the first T20I where the Men in Blue comprehensively won by 48 runs.
Srikkanth not in favour of playing important players
Though the extent of Axar's injury isn't known as of yet, Srikkanth believes that the team should refrain from playing key players like Bumrah and Pandya especially with the T20 World Cup being right around the corner. He said that the selectors should try and rotate players as much as they can during the series against New Zealand.
"I would still prefer India batting first and playing like this. But I want to also see them chasing 200 so it is a practice. It will be challenging in the World Cup if you are chasing and in every situation you will not get to bat first always. My only concern in injury. Axar got injured and we don't want key players getting injured. I think the likes of Bumrah and Hardik should not play a game or two. There should be rotation because there is no time for recovery if you get injured," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Both Bumrah and Pandya are one of India's most important players when it comes to the shortest format. It remains to be seen if the two of them will take the field in the second T20I of the series that will be held in Raipur on January 23.
India take vital lead in the series
Coming to the first T20I, India completely outclassed New Zealand in both the batting and bowling departments to set up a one-sided win. Batting first, India posted a mammoth total of 238/7 in 20 overs thanks to Abhishek Sharma (84) and Rinku Singh's (44*) blitzkreig. The target of 239 would prove to be too big for the Kiwis in the end they would finish their 20 overs on 190/7. Shivam Dube and Varun Chakravarthy were the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, racking up two wickets each. India will now be aiming to take a formidable lead in the series by coming out victorious in the second T20I.