Get over T20 loss

The Indian cricket team's defeat in first two T20 matches on the New Zealand tour is shocking. It appears that they were overconfident and underestimated the strength of their opponents.

The Indian cricket team's defeat in first two T20 matches on the New Zealand tour is shocking. It appears that they were overconfident and underestimated the strength of their opponents. Both the teams have been playing a lot of international cricket in the past year and one cannot say that either of the team has been out of touch.

While the New Zealand team applied themselves and played with a well thought out game plan, the Indians were rather rudderless and carefree. If this attitude of Indian team continues the one dayers, beginning today, may prove to be one-sided.

Buck up: Irfan Pathan gets a word of encouragement from Harbhajan Singh in the second T20 game at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Pic/AP

The opening pair, particularly Sehwag, should curb his natural flair for hitting big shots from the very first ball and try to occupy the crease for at least 10 to 15 overs in the one day games. In Sehwag and Gambir, we have one of the greatest opening pairs in contemporary cricket.

Let us hope the Indian team plays to its true potential in one day games and Test matches and makes this tour a memorable one.

On the New Zealand tour, India lost the T20games from the word go.u00a0 All along we were banking on the toss, but it did not work in our favour. With the dependable pair of Sehwag and Gambhir failing early the writing was on the wall.u00a0u00a0

The one-day series will be really tough.u00a0 With small grounds and windy conditions, the Kiwis are destined to fly high. Instead of blaming the umpiring, the nature of the wickets and the climatic conditions, we should get acclamatised to the situation.

The team should stop harping on the T20 loss. Forget the past wins back home and start afresh for the 50-over game. We should not play the one day series like the T20 matches.