'Meaningless': Mitchell McClenaghan taunts team India for their early exit from 20-20 World Cup

New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan has mocked team India over their early exit from the 20-20 World Cup. India failed to make it to the knockouts after losing back to back games against Pakistan and New Zealand.

India and New Zealand are playing a three-match T20I series and the Men in Blue have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Responding to an Indian fan who was celebrating the T20I series win, McClenaghan termed the series 'meaningless', saying that New Zealand are playing against a team who have had plenty of rest before the series, taking a jibe at India for their early exit from the 20-20 World Cup. Notably, New Zealand played the first T20I within 72 hours of competing in the 20-20 World Cup final.

Did they? You mean in meaningless series 72 hours after a WC final defeat with 3 games in 5 days playing a team with 10 days rest in their home conditions? https://t.co/jldmmH58YZ

— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) November 20, 2021

Meanwhile, Kiwi skipper Tim Southee had also rued the team's hectic schedule for their miserable outings in the first two games. "It's been a hectic schedule on the back of the T20 World Cup, I just don't think we adapted to the surface as well as we could have," Southee said at the post-match conference.

India have been exceptional in the series, comprehensively winning the two games. However, they have been aided by the dew, which was one of the biggest villains for teams defending in the 20-20 World Cup. Playing his first series as a full-time T20I skipper, Rohit Sharma won both the tosses and chose to bat. Having restricted New Zealand to a below-par score, Indian batters have faced no issues against Kiwi bowlers in dewy conditions.

The teams will next cross swords in the final game on Sunday, 21st November.