India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey reacts on pitch curated for the 2nd T20I vs NZ

Image Source : GETTY India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey | File Photo

India's bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey, stated that the curator would be the ideal individual to provide an assessment of the pitch prepared for the second T20I against New Zealand. Earlier, India's captain, Hardik Pandya, criticized the quality of the pitches used in the current series against New Zealand and expressed shock over the kind of pitch prepared at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

'Lucky To Control The Game'

The ball turned in the first T20I in Ranchi and it was no different on Sunday when New Zealand were restricted to 99 for eight. India chased down the target with only one ball to spare. "The curator is the right person to answer that question (on the pitch). But definitely, we knew it would be a big challenge and luckily we controlled the game. Anything in the range of 120-130 would have been really challenging. We did well to restrict them to 99 and it was an achievable target," Mhambrey said at the post-match press conference.

Mhambrey further said the wicket looked challenging from the outset. "When we saw the wicket, we realised it was on the drier side. There was a little grass covering on the middle, but there was none on both ends. When we came yesterday, it looked like it would turn and we realised it would be challenging," he said.

The former Mumbai seamer lauded the bowlers for doing a fine job in the second match. India left out tearaway pacer Umran Malik for an extra spinner in Yuzvendra Chahal, who bagged figures of 2-1-4-1. The other three spinners in Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Deepak Hooda also took one wicket each while bowling economically. He said Chahal bowled in the powerplay as a right-hander was batting during that phase of the game on a turning wicket.

Why Was Chahal Included?

"Chahal was included because we felt an additional spinner would help us. It really did as he bowled well for us. You take decisions on the basis of surface and instincts. Hardik possibly felt that a leg-spinner would help in that situation since a right-hander was batting and it was turning. Possibly that is why he bowled in the powerplay," Mhambrey said.

The two teams will now square off on Feb 1 at Ahmedabad in the 3rd and final T20I.