The guys have been little bit tired, but we always play with pride: Chapman

Mark Chapman, who last played an international match on April 1 earlier this year, said he was happy to get some game-time in the first T2OI against India on Wednesday (November 18). The left-handed batter was part of the New Zealand T20 World Cup squad but didn’t get to play a single match. In the absence of Kane Williamson, the 27-year-old batted at No. 3 in Jaipur and scored 63 off 50 deliveries, becoming the first-ever player to score T20I fifties for two different nations. 

"To be honest, it was just nice to be out there. Had a lot of training behind the scenes, but nothing beats the real thing of being out in the middle. In World Cups, you play your best XI and if we're going well, then more than likely you stick with your best team. So it just meant that I was on the sidelines for a bit. I did my best to support the guys in and around training," Chapman said after the first T20I, which New Zealand lost by five wickets.

"You find ways to add context to your training. Obviously, being in and around this environment, you try and train the best you can given the situation and make the most of the opportunities to train. There was a lot of training in the background. I felt prepared, but I guess match-preparation wise it wasn't ideal. But just happy to be out there."

The Black Caps lost the 2021 T20 World Cup final against Australia on Sunday and had to take the field against India in less than 72 hours. “There was a natural feeling of a little bit of disappointment (at losing the final), but a lot of pride as well in the way we went about our business throughout the World Cup.

"We stayed authentic to the way we wanted to play and you know, the guys are true professionals. These games have come around pretty quick, it's a three-match series in five days, and the guys are just doing what we do best and that's playing our cricket and enjoying it. The guys have been a little bit tired, but we always play for New Zealand with pride. Particularly for myself and Todd, who have been on the sidelines, it was a really exciting moment to be playing."

At one stage, Chapman was on 20 off 24 deliveries but managed shift gears in the second half of his innings. The left-handed added 109 runs with Martin Guptill for the second wicket and propelled New Zealand to a competitive total. 

"We were probably a bit slow in the powerplay but we rotated the strike pretty well through the middle and managed to accelerate after that 10-over mark. Pretty happy to be batting with Gup and to put on, I think it was over 100 runs, so pretty happy with that partnership.

"It just took a little bit to get my rhythm going. But once I faced a few balls and managed to get the pace of the wicket sort of, things tend to come back pretty quickly. Guppy was keeping me pretty good company out in the middle and giving me advice and telling me to take my time, watch the ball. So it was just a matter of us doing what we've been training for and what we've prepared for."

Chapman is now looking forward to next year’s T20 World Cup. "It's been well reported that this Black Caps team is pretty competitive to get into, so whenever you get your opportunity you've just got to do what you can to contribute to the team. Thankfully I was able to contribute today."