Shivam Dube got nine runs off four balls while batting at number six in the opening T20I against New Zealand. He finished with 2/28 in three overs, taking both of his wickets in the Kiwi innings’ final over.
India won the opening T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand by 48 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday, January 21. The Men in Blue, after being sent into bat, made 238-7 and then restricted the Kiwis to 190-7 for a vital 1-0 series lead. Arshdeep went for 1-31 in four overs, while Bumrah finished with 0-29 from three.
Despite the success, Arshdeep has been on the outside of the T20I playing XI for a good few months now. In a chat with ESPNcricinfo, Chopra urged the team management to play the left-arm pacer regularly as he benefits Bumrah. He explains:
“Bumrah will not actually get to bowl with the new ball if Arshdeep is bowling. Bumrah [thus] gets the role that we all feel is better suited for India, where he doesn’t have to bowl three with the new ball and only one in the death overs. He gets two for his death overs.
“He may not have to actually even bowl two with the new ball in the powerplay overs. Bowl one in the middle to break a partnership and keep two at the bottom. And that can only happen if Arshdeep plays,” the 48-year-old went on to explain.
Arshdeep and Hardik Pandya led India’s bowling attack in the first T20I against New Zealand in Nagpur. Bumrah came on to bowl the fifth over.
“Quite likely that he won’t actually find a place” – Aakash Chopra admits Arshdeep’s presence will keep out Kuldeep
While Chopra believes Arshdeep would be in the playing XI for T20Is on a permanent basis, he admits that left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav would be unlucky to miss out. He stated:
“It is quite likely that he won’t actually find a place in the side. Because, if there is a stage where you need another fast bowler, it could be Harshit Rana batting at eight.”
Arshdeep and Bumrah were the first choice pacers for India for the Nagpur T20I. Pandya, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube played as all-rounders while Varun Chakaravarthy was the lead spinner.
