'It's a good challenge' - Suryakumar Yadav opens up on India's defeat against NZ in 4th T20I match

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav opened up about his decision to bowl first after winning the toss in the 4th T20I match against New Zealand. Despite being in a brilliant form, India chose to let the Kiwis bat first and as a result, they slammed 215 runs in the first innings. Harshit Rana conceded 54 runs in four overs while the other bowlers were expensive too. 

SKY mentioned about how they wanted to experiment with the batting lineup as they had already won the series. Since the T20 World Cup 2026 is coming up, India will be looking forward to doing such experiments that would make the batters more flexible and prepared for the marquee event.

"We've been batting really well when we've batted first. So I wanted the guys to take that responsibility if we're chasing 180 or 200, and two wickets or three wickets are down and see how we bat. So it's a good challenge. Hopefully if we get an opportunity again in the next game, we might chase again. But at the end of the day, good learning," said Suryakumar Yadav at the post-match presentation.

"With the heavy dew, I think one or two partnerships here and there, like the way Dube batted, one batter with him would have made a lot of difference at the end of the game. We lost by 50 runs but it's okay. As I said, one or two partnerships like this in a run-chase like this might make a difference," he added.

Sometimes you get a bit lucky early: Tim Seifert

New Zealand's opening batter Tim Seifert played an outstanding knock of 62 runs against India. He started smashing the bowlers from the first over, forming 100-run partnership with fellow opener Devon Conway. 

This partnership helped them put pressure on the Indian bowlers. Seifert won the Player of the Match award for a wonderful knock. He opened up about the performance and how he was lucky early on as the balls went towards the boundary off top-edge. 

"Sometimes you get a bit lucky early on and yeah sometimes the nature of the game, but the intent that we wanted to put on the bowlers early, sometimes you get a couple of top-edges and they go for boundary early. Look, he (Bumrah) got me with a beauty last game, so sometimes you've got to tip your hat, but you've just got to make sure that you look to play straight in the right line and then once you get that first ball, I reckon with him, then it's a bit easier," said Tim Seifert. 

Where to watch IND vs NZ 5th T20I match?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs New Zealand 5th T20I match on January 31 online on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium.

Also read: Former India bowler blames Test series loss against SA on Kohli-Rohit transition, makes eye-opening claim