India vs New Zealand: Hardik Pandya on why ‘attack is the best defence’ on Napier wicket | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India skipper Hardik Pandya‘s fiery unbeaten 18-ball 30-run cameo turned the tide in India’s favour as India clinched the three-match T20 series 1-0 after the third and deciding T20I against New Zealand ended in a tie via Duckworth-Lewis method in Napier on Tuesday.
Chasing 161 to win, India were struggling at 21 for three in 2.5 overs but Pandya started hitting right from the word go as he smashed three boundaries and a six to take the visitors to 75 for four, which proved to be at par with the DLS score when the match was called off due to rain.

The opening game was washed out without a ball being bowled in Wellington. India won the three-match series 1-0, courtesy their 65-run win in the second T20I on Sunday.
‘I felt attack is the best defence on this wicket,” Hardik said during the post-match presentation. “Would have liked to win the game by playing the full overs, but it is what it is,” he said.
“We know the kind of bowling attacks they have, it was very important to get those 10-15 runs extra even though we lost a couple of wickets,” Pandya added.
“A game like this could have given us an opportunity to test some of the players, but having said weather is something we cannot control. I’m going home, taking my time off and be with my son.”

New Zealand were 130 for two in the 16th over but the duo of Arshdeep Singh (4/37) and Mohammed Siraj (4/17) triggered a collapse as the Kiwis were bowled out for 160 with two balls to spare.
‘Hard lengths gave me the rewards’: Siraj
Siraj, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, for snapping 4 for 17 runs, said he was rewarded for bowling hard lengths.
“The wicket wasn’t easy to bat and I was prepared to bowl hard lengths which gave me the rewards. I prepared myself to bowl hard lengths and had so much practice during the World Cup and I just executed my plans.
“I always keep it simple. Just bowl the hard lengths. The weather is not in our hands, happy with the series win.”

‘Not carrying any baggage out in the middle’: Suryakumar
Suryakumar Yadav, who had scored an unbeaten 111-run knock in the opening T20, won the Player of the Series.
“Really happy with the way things went till now, would have loved to have a full game here and as Siraj said the weather is not in our hands,” he said.
“The pressure is always there and at the same time I’m enjoying my batting, just going there and expressing myself. Not carrying any baggage out there.
“The intent and approach will remain the same. We can just go out and express ourselves.”
India and New Zealand will now play the three-match ODI series, beginning with the opening match on Friday.
(With inputs from PTI)