Hardik Pandya slams curator for ‘shocker’ of a pitch in 2nd T20I against New Zealand

The pitches used for the first two T20Is between India and New Zealand have been criticized, and India’s skipper Hardik Pandya is hoping that a better surface would be used for the final match on Wednesday in Ahmedabad.

Pandya and his New Zealand opponent Mitchell Santner were taken aback by the abrupt change during the series opener in Ranchi, which the visiting team won by 21 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match set.

In the second match on Sunday in Lucknow, where India narrowly defeated New Zealand by six wickets despite New Zealand posting a score of 99-8, the spinners had an even more significant influence.

‘I am all up for that, but these two wickets are not made for T20’: Hardik Pandya

In the entire 40 overs, 30 of them were bowled by spinners from both teams, and not a single batter struck a six. The highest individual score by a batter was Suryakumar Yadav’s 26 not out off 31 balls, which was very conservative for him.

“To be honest, it was a shocker of a wicket. I don’t mind difficult wickets. I am all up for that, but these two wickets are not made for T20. Somewhere down the line the curators or the grounds that we are going to play in should make sure they prepare the pitches in time,” Pandya said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Santner thought of having fast bowler Lockie Ferguson bowl off-spin due to the track’s excessively spin-friendly features.

“I was trying to find them (spinners) from everywhere,” Santner said.

“I was asking Lockie if he could bowl some off-spin. I think you don’t often see more than 12 overs of spin out there. I think maybe we bowled 16 or 17, so it’s definitely something different,” the Blackcaps skipper added.

Suryakumar Yadav was awarded the Man of the Match award for his unbeaten knock of 26 runs off 31 balls which included only a four. He was indulged in a weird run-out which was caused due to a miscommunication between him and all-rounder Washington Sundar.