The BCCI has come under the scanner as it has been receiving criticism of the pitch produced at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow for the second T20I against New Zealand. The pitch was nothing less than a graveyard for the batters as the ball was turning square and the batters were finding it difficult to play through the line.
First, India was able to restrict New Zealand to just 99/8 with Yuzvendra Chahal leading the spin-charge on a viciously turning pitch. Later, while chasing the target, India lost regular wickets as the Kiwi bowlers took it into the final over. But Suryakumar Yadav smashed an unbeaten 26 along with Hardik Pandya playing a gritty cameo of 15 not out, India was able to win the second T20I with one ball to spare. SKY smashed the winning runs in the 2nd T20I against New Zealand to help the Indian cricket team. India chased down a target of 100 runs on a tough pitch. He played a gritty knock of 26 runs off 31 balls, smashing one boundary.
Notably, the game witnessed 30 overs of spin with no six being hit in either inning. India’s stand-in captain Hardik Pandya also termed the Lucknow pitch a “shocker” after India edged New Zealand by six wickets. “To be honest, it was a shocker of a wicket,” Pandya said.
He added: “I don’t mind difficult wickets. I am all up for that, but somewhere down the line the curators or the grounds that we are going to play in should make sure they prepare the pitches earlier.”
Meanwhile, fans on social media slammed the BCCI for producing a graveyard-like pitch for batters. Check out some of the reactions from the fans:
Talking about the series, the Indian cricket team has now India’s stand-in captain Hardik Pandya also termed the Lucknow pitch a “shocker” after India edged New Zealand by six wickets.
