‘Arshdeep single-handedly won it’ – Fans rip apart team India as they suffer 21-run loss to New Zealand in 1st T20I

India and New Zealand faced off in the first T20I of the three-match series in JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi on Friday. And it was New Zealand who won the match by 21 runs, courtesy of a supreme bowling effort by the Kiwi spinners. It was India captain Hardik Pandya who won the toss and put New Zealand to bat first on a surface that offered a lot of spin with dew playing a factor.

New Zealand opening batter Finn Allen provided a good start with a knock of 35 off 23 before perishing in the fifth over. It was his opening partner Devon Conway who then picked it up with a well-made 52 off 35, carrying on with his supreme form with the bat across formats.

Indian spinners stopped the Kiwi charge with a few wickets, especially Washington Sundar with two key wickets of Allen and Mark Chapman. Later on, in the death overs, it was Daryl Mitchell who completely took it away from the Indian bowlers with a blistering knock of an unbeaten 59 off 30.

Sundar’s all-round show goes in vain

After Sundar, the pick of the Indian bowlers was Kuldeep Yadav, who finished with 1 for 20 in four overs. New Zealand finished with a competitive total of 176 for the loss of 6 wickets. India needed a good start with a challenging target in hand. However, the Indian top-order collapsed at the very beginning of the innings with openers Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan departing for 7 and 4 respectively; and no. 3 batter Rahul Tripathi departing for a six-ball duck added to the misery.

Once the top three batters were back in the pavilion, India were on the back foot throughout the innings. Although Suryakumar Yadav tried to pull the strings with a gritty 47 off 34, it was not enough for the Men in Blue to have any grasp on the game. Towards the end of the game, Sundar, the star with the ball, also contributed with the bat with an explosive 50 off 28, but it all came in vain.

Here is how the fans reacted to New Zealand’s win in the first T20I:

Arshdeep single handedly won it for new Zealand be it last over of NZ batting or 18 th over of Indian batting. Very good player 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️ for New Zealand. #indvsnz #arshdeepsingh

— RaaM (@im_ram) January 27, 2023

#INDvsNZ
That's the difference between India and New Zealand.
27 runs in the last over. pic.twitter.com/2546qJ3n6X

— Manish Kaushik (@Downunder007) January 27, 2023

Strange day in Indian cricket. India won a world cup knockout match against new Zealand and lost a bilateral series match. Huge glitch in the matrix. #IndvsNZ2ndODI

— Rohit.Bishnoi (@The_kafir_boy_2) January 27, 2023

Man Of The Match for New Zealand – Arshdeep Singh

— Chinmay Rane (@cvrane) January 27, 2023

But but hardik won ipl 🤡 india look like a village team under attitude merchant hardik🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.team selection poorn, feld placement poor, bowling changes poor and his game with bat and ball hit a new lowest point

— Vignesh PEREZ OUT❌️ (@ViniciusJrERA) January 27, 2023

Win against NZ could have been ‘Sunder’ if Arsh’s curse had not triggered.

— SamD 🇮🇳🇺🇸 (@revisitorSam) January 27, 2023

Well tried Washington 👏…. it's New Zealand who pulled off a comprehensive win to go 1-0 up. Looking forward to the next game as we look to bounce back in the series 👊#INDvNZ

— Mrinango C.Borty (VK fan) (@ViratKo66279185) January 27, 2023

T20Is without these two GOATs is not a pure form of cricket 😄 pic.twitter.com/B4k7iRnCXS

— Mathurji (@IamMathur0) January 27, 2023

I think Hardik didn't let other players play their way
Surely Surya was feeling pressure but when he was with virat he performed in his own way

— Pal (@Susho_Pal) January 27, 2023

The need of Indian cricket pic.twitter.com/Gt7inzJZOm

— Sandesh Aryal (@sandesharyal_1) January 27, 2023

Reasons for today's loss:-
1. Worst bowling by Arshdeep especially in last over.
2. Failure of Top 3 batsman.
3. Every batsman failed to play Santner.
4. Poor batting,bowling and captaincy by Pandya.

— Ayush (@Ayush69467353) January 27, 2023