Nagpur, India - Following India's dominant 48-run victory over New Zealand in the first T20I at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, Arshdeep Singh shared his thoughts on his approach to the game. India now leads the five-match series 1-0.
The Men in Blue showcased an impressive batting display, posting a formidable total of 238/7, their highest ever against New Zealand in T20Is. Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a scintillating 84 off just 35 balls, including 5 fours and 8 sixes. Rinku Singh provided a fiery finish, smashing an unbeaten 44 off 20 deliveries. Suryakumar Yadav also contributed with 32 runs.
In response, New Zealand struggled to keep up with the required run rate, eventually finishing at 190/7. Glenn Phillips fought valiantly, scoring 78 runs, but it wasn't enough to overhaul the target. Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Shivam Dube all took wickets for India, contributing to the victory. Shivam Dube took two wickets in two balls.
Arshdeep Singh, who took 1/31, emphasized the importance of enjoying every moment on the field. Speaking after the match, he said, "I just try to stay in the present and enjoy what's in front of me, and just give it my all, whether it's a red ball, pink ball, orange ball, or whatever ball it is, just enjoy". He also highlighted that adapting to the conditions and understanding how the batters are approaching the game are crucial aspects of his bowling strategy. "It's mostly condition-based, and it also depends on how the batters are approaching you," Arshdeep explained. "If they're trying to attack or something like that, then you tend to pull your length back a bit, and you just have to adapt as quickly as possible before the batters get used to what you're trying to do".
India's victory was set up by Abhishek Sharma's explosive innings, which included a 22-ball half-century, the quickest for India against New Zealand in T20Is. Rinku Singh's late fireworks further propelled India to a competitive total. New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first.
The series against New Zealand is India's final T20I assignment before the T20 World Cup 2026. India will be looking to fine-tune their strategies and solidify their team composition as they prepare to defend their title.
