ICC World T20: How a Spin Gamble Paid Off For New Zealand vs India on a Demonic Nagpur Pitch

Kumar Sangakkara slammed the nature of the Nagpur pitch that saw world No. 1 India crashing to a humiliating defeat in their opening ICC World T20 match against New Zealand on Tuesday night. (World T20: Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi Help New Zealand Stun India by 47 Runs)

Kane Williamson's gamble to compromise on speed and pick three specialist spinners paid off as New Zealand humbled hosts India by 47 runs in a spin-dominated Super 10 contest.

Opting to bat first, New Zealand posted 126-7 in the Group Two contest on a prodigiously turning track at Nagpur's VCA Stadium, seemingly a below-par total against the host nation who are famed for their proficiency against spin bowling. (World T20: 'Night of Humiliation' as Media Slam India After New Zealand Loss)

New Zealand's three-pronged spin attack, however, ensured it was more than enough as Mitchell Santner (4-11), Nathan McCullum (2-15) and the Indian-born Ish Sodhi (3-18) wrecked the hosts who folded for 79 in 18.1 overs.

Nagpur Pitch Not Good for T20: Sangakkara

Former Sri Lankan captain Sangakkara, speaking on NDTV, said the Nagpur pitch was not suited for T20 cricket as the sticky and spinning natured thwarted belligerent batting, a key attraction in the shortest format of the game.

The wicket in the Jamtha Stadium (Nagpur) drew a lot of flak last year when South Africa lost a Test match in three days with Indian spinners creating havoc on a minefield of a pitch. Nagpur was pulled up by the ICC but escaped with just a reprimand. The BCCI president Shashank Manohar, who is also the ICC chairman, is from Nagpur.

Sunil Gavaskar, on Tuesday, was cautious about his assessment of the Nagpur pitch. During the height of the criticism last year, Gavaskar had steadfastly defended the Nagpur pitch and blamed South Africa's lack of batting skills for their rout.

New Zealand's Ish Sodhi (down) celebrates with teammates after picking up a wicket during the World T20 match against India.

© AP

India Got Taste of Their Own Medicine: Gavaskar

"India got a taste of their own medicine. Questions on the pitch would not have arisen if India had won," Gavaskar told on NDTV. The pure lack of application and their lack of respect for the playing conditions clearly hurt India's top batsmen.

Williamson said it was not an easy decision to drop the pace duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult to accommodate the spinners.

"Obviously that was tough, they are world class bowlers," the Kiwi captain said.

"But at the same time we are looking to do the best we can in these conditions. Certainly the spinners paid off today. The wicket spun a lot and they bowled very well on it."

The first three balls of the match contained the kind of drama and excitement that fans would be expecting from the sixth edition of the tournament in cricket's emotional and financial home in India.

After Williamson won the toss and decided to set a target, Martin Guptill nonchalantly hit the first delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin over the bowler's head for a six.

The off-spinner settled score in the very next ball, trapping the batsman leg before with a delivery that, replay suggested, would have gone over the stumps.

New man in Colin Munro reverse hit the next ball for a six but threw his wicket in the next over.

As wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Corey Anderson (34) tried to steady the innings and it was Luke Ronchi's (21 not out) 11-ball cameo that took them past the 125-mark.

The Indian fans expected the chase to be a stroll in the park but Santner, who was adjudged man-of-the-match, and McCullum had other ideas.

India Reduced to 26 for 4 in Fifth Over

They blew away India's top order, reducing them to 26-4 in the fifth over to derail their chase. Virat Kohli (23) resisted the onslaught for a while but Sodhi struck a crucial blow with his very first ball to send back the Indian batting mainstay.

Home captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni waged a lone battle with a run-a-ball 30 but the celebrated 'finisher' could not get his team over the line.

New Zealand beat India at their own game with their spinners claiming nine of the 10 wickets but Dhoni insisted the defeat was more down to his team's careless batting.

"It was our batting that let us down," the home captain said after India's fifth futile attempt to beat New Zealand in Twenty20 Internationals.

"There were quite a few soft dismissals. It was not like the deliveries got a lot of batsmen out. Maybe it was our shot selection... there was no partnership also," Dhoni rued.

(With inputs from Reuters)