Team India clinched the T20I series. Photo: AP
\n\nShreyas Iyer-led India won the five-match T20I series against New Zealand 3-2 to end the first leg of the tour. The Men in Blue sealed the series early by winning the first three games. They suffered back-to-back defeats in the last two games. Given India's domination in the first half, it looked like they might go on to whitewash the home team. But NZ bounced back strongly to snap their losing run. India head coach Gautam Gambhir was criticised despite India's series win. The team management backed Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in all five games. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi only got to play two games that Ishan Kishan missed due to an injury.
\n\nThe 15-year-old batter was dropped as soon as a fit-again Ishan Kishan made his return to the playing XI. Gambhir seemingly reacted to the criticism and sent a sharp message to his critics. "Built as a Team. Won as a Team. Always for India," he wrote on X.
\n\nAfter being benched for the first game, Sooryavanshi finally played the second fixture. He departed for four. The left-handed batter returned to form in the third game and slammed 45 off just…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports
