New Zealand vs India 2019: 4 reasons why India lost the first T20I

#3 Expensive Indian bowlers

Hardik Pandya

Indian bowlers had a rare off day. None of them looked deadly enough and could not even contain the batsmen. All the Indian bowlers conceded above 35 runs, making it only the second time all the five Indian bowlers conceded over 35 runs in T20I history.

India had other options in the likes of Vijay Shankar, but Rohit didn't use him as well as he could've. Hardik Pandya was the most expensive bowler, conceding 51 runs in four overs with two wickets.

Frontline seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar conceded 47 runs in four overs, which was the maximum run conceded by him in his T20I career. Khaleel Ahmed continued to be expensive, conceding 48 runs in four overs. India clearly missed the services of Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav. But credit should be given to New Zealand batsmen for taking on Indian bowlers early in the innings, which pushed India on the backfoot in the beginning itself.