Ahead of T20I series, Hardik Pandya and Kane Williamson ride a ‘crocodile bike’ in Wellington
New Zealand have rested the seasoned Martin Guptill and Trent Boult. India are without top batters Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli as well as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja who are injured.
In their absence, opener Shubman Gill, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, tearaway pacer Umran Malik, off-spinner Washington Sundar, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, pacer Mohammed Siraj, wicketkeeper-batters Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson have been given a chance.
“The main boys are not here. But at the same point of time, the players who are already here have been playing for India for about one and a half or two years now. Even they have had ample chances and spent enough time in international cricket to express themselves and showcase what they have,” ANI quoted Pandya as saying.
Ahead of the first T20I, captains Hardik Pandya and Kane Williamson were seen enjoying a ride together on a ‘crocodile bike’ in Wellington.
The ‘crocbikes’ are popular with tourists for sightseeing trips around the waterfront in New Zealand’s capital city.
It will be the second year in a row that India and New Zealand will be playing a bilateral series soon after a World Cup. Williamson said any opportunity to play India is always a special one.
“The talent and the player depth in India certainly means that cricket’s going to be of the highest standard. And we’ve seen Indian teams that have had players that are resting travel the world and have some amazing clashes with other sides,” Williamson said.
