Suryakumar Yadav on India’s Strategic Risks in 4th T20I: ‘We Might Chase Again’

Visakhapatnam, Jan 29: India captain Suryakumar Yadav explained his decision to bowl first in the fourth T20I against New Zealand, a move that surprised many after India lost the match chasing a challenging 216-run target. Winning the toss, Yadav opted to field, sticking to a strategy of testing the team under pressure while giving all World Cup squad members game time.

India strengthened its bowling lineup by recalling Arshdeep Singh in place of Ishan Kishan, who was sidelined due to a niggle. The approach, Yadav said, was aimed at pushing the team out of its comfort zone and challenging the batting unit to perform in high-pressure chases.

“We purposely played six batters to test ourselves with five strong bowlers. We wanted to see how the team responds if two or three wickets fall chasing 180 or 200. The focus is on learning under pressure ahead of the World Cup,” Yadav said in the post-match press conference.

Reflecting on where the chase faltered, Yadav pointed to the lack of key partnerships despite favorable dew conditions. He noted that one sustained stand alongside Shivam Dube could have turned the match around.

“One or two partnerships like the way Dube batted would have made a big difference. But it’s a good learning experience. If we get a similar scenario again, we might chase again,” he added.

Yadav emphasized that the priority was not just the result, but building experience and resilience under challenging conditions, preparing the side for the pressures of the upcoming World Cup.