New Zealand vs. India: Cricket
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World Cup
The results of New Zealand – India matches
Dwaipayan Datta, Nov 15, 2023: The Times of India
It’s not one of the most storied rivalries, but India vs New Zealand clashes over the years have had their share of edge-ofthe-seat tension. Through the 1980s, 90s and the first decade of the 2000s, it used to be a battle of equals, but in the last 10 years, India seemed to hold the upper hand. Still, one of India’s bitterest defeats in recent times — the semifinal of the 2019 World Cup — came against New Zealand and that’s what makes the fans edgy ahead of another last-four clash between the two teams on Wednesday.
Highlights of the more memorable matches
Dwaipayan Datta, Nov 15, 2023: The Times of India
TOI looks at five of the most nail-biting India-New Zealand ODIs in the last 40 years.
1 1985 Benson and Hedges semifinal, SCG (India won by 7 wkts): The scoreline might suggest that the then worldchampions India had it easy. But for a very long time, they were pushed into a tight corner on a difficult pitch. Chasing 207, India had reached 102/3, but the asking-rate had shot well past 6 — quite high by 1985 standards. It was at this point that captain Sunil Gavaskar promoted Kapil Dev, whose brilliant unbeaten 37-ball 54 completely changed the course of the game. Giving Kapil company was the ever-reliable Dilip Vengsarkar, who was unbeaten on 63 off 59 balls as India made the final, where they beat Pakistan.
2 1990 Rothman’s Cup tri-series, Wellington (India won by 1 run): It was Mohd Azharuddin’s first tour as Indian captain and things weren’t quite going right. After making a poor start to the tri-series, India were in a must-win situation. Kapil Dev’s 46 and Sachin Tendulkar’s 36 helped India reach 221. New Zealand were on their way to victory when a brilliant 49th over by Manoj Prabhakar (3/37) gave India hope. But with Richard Hadlee still there and NZ needing 10 runs off six balls, it was the hosts’ game to lose. Kapil bowled a superb last over, dismissing Hadlee off the last ball to help India score a memorable 1-run win.
3 2000 ICC Champions Trophy final, Nairobi (NZ won by 4 wkts): Under new captain Sourav Ganguly, India were in brilliant form and were the overwhelming favourites. It was Ganguly’s 117 that had helped India reach 264/6, which seemed like a good score on a pitch which was getting slower. But coming in at No. 5, Chris Cairns, returning to play the match after recovering from injury, smashed one of the best ODI knocks in a final. He attacked the Indian bowlers and his unbeaten 102 helped the Kiwis pip India with two balls to spare.
4 2003 bilateral series, 6th ODI, Auckland (India won by 1 wkt): This was a series where India were getting hammered on green-tops both in Tests and ODIs. India had already lost the ODI series by the time this game was played but careers were on the line, especially with the World Cup coming up. Again, on a green pitch, India bowled New Zealand out for 199. Then it was Virender Sehwag’s superb 112 off 139 balls that brought India close. Sehwag counter-attacked the likes of Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey and when he was dismissed, India had 18 more to get with six wickets in hand. But India were reduced to 198-9 and another humiliation was looming when the last-wicket partnership of Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra helped them scrape home.
5 2019 World Cup semifinal, Old Trafford (NZ won by 18 runs): One of India’s worst defeats in recent times. It also marked the end of MS Dhoni’s international career. Virat Kohli’s boys had made the semifinals winning 7 of 9 games. When they reduced the Kiwis to 239-8, it looked like a cakewalk. But rain intervened and the match was pushed to the second day. With the ball seaming around next morning, India were reduced to 5-3. The match was kept alive by Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja (77 off 59 balls). After Jadeja got dismissed, Dhoni hit a six off Lockie Ferguson and they needed 25 off 10 balls with Jimmy Neesham to bowl the last over. But Dhoni was run out by a brilliant throw by Martin Guptill from the deep while trying a second run off the third ball of the 49th over. It brought down the curtains on MSD’s career and the Indian campaign.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
There have been quite a few outstanding individual performances in ODIs played between the two teams... 1 Chetan Sharma got India’s first ODI hat-trick and Sunil Gavaskar scored his only ODI century against New Zealand in a must-win World Cup group league match in Ahmedabad in the 1987 World Cup which India won.
2 Mohd Azharuddin’s 65-ball 108 helped India win in Baroda in a bilateral ODI. It was an Indian record for the fastest ODI century for a long time before Sehwag broke it in 2009.
3 Sachin Tendulkar opened for the first time in ODIs in 1994 at Eden Park Auckland and smashed 82 off 49 balls in a winning cause.
T20Is
2012-20: Five memorable encounters
Manish Kumar, Nov 17, 2021: The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Team India have most of the time found itself at the receiving end against New Zealand in ICC tournaments. Be it the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final, the ICC World Test Championship final or the recent T20 World Cup Super 12 match, the Kiwis have prevailed over India.
The two teams will now face off in a three match T20I series in India. While India will be itching to bounce back to winning ways after being knocked out of the tournament in the Super 12 stage itself, the Kiwis will still be hurting from yet another loss in an ICC tournament final.
The Black Caps have a better record overall in T20I encounters between the two teams.
Out of the 17 T20Is played between the two sides, India have won 8 matches, while the Kiwis have won 9. Two matches out of those 18 contested were tied games which India went on to win by one-over eliminators (Super Over).
Over the years, the two teams have played multiple memorable T20 matches.
Here we look at the five most memorable T20I encounters between India and New Zealand over the years:
2020 – Hamilton, 3rd T20I: Match tied, India won in Super Over
India were already up 2-0 in the five-match series. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and asked India to bat first in the 3rd T20I in Hamilton on January 29, 2020. Indian opener Rohit Sharma top scored with a 40-ball 65. Captain Virat Kohli and KL Rahul chipped in with 38 and 27 respectively to take India to a competitive 179/5.
For the Kiwis, Williamson led from the front with a 48-ball 95 aided with 6 sixes and 8 fours, but his dismissal in the last over derailed the Kiwi run chase. New Zealand needed 9 runs off the last over and Ross Taylor smashed the first ball for a six but Mohammed Shami first dismissed Williamson off the third ball and with one run needed off the last ball, Taylor edged the ball onto his stumps. The scores were tied and the match went into a Super Over.
Martin Guptill and Williamson came out to bat for the Kiwis in the Super Over with Jasprit Bumrah being given the ball. Two singles were conceded off the first two deliveries. Williamson then dispatched the third delivery for a six and the next was taken for a four. After a bye on the fifth ball, Guptill hit a boundary off the last ball to take the Kiwi total to 17.
Indian openers Rohit and Rahul walked out to chase the target, with Tim Southee entrusted with the bowling duties. Rohit took 3 runs off the first 2 balls. Rahul smacked the third delivery for four and gave Rohit the strike by taking a single off the fourth ball. With 10 runs needed off the last two balls, Rohit, in his unflappable style, hit the last two deliveries over long-on and long-off boundaries for sixes to win the match as India took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
2020 – Wellington, 4th T20I: Match tied, India won in Super Over
The next match of the series was in Wellington on January 31, 2020 and Virat Kohli again lost the toss and India were put into bat by stand-in New Zealand captain Tim Southee. Kane Williamson missed the game due to a left shoulder injury. With the series already in the bag, India chose to rest Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja, bringing in Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini.
Opener KL Rahul hit 39, but it was Manish Pandey, batting at No. 6 who top scored with an unbeaten 36-ball 50, as the Indian top order simply caved in. Ish Sodhi took 3/26 as India ended up with 165/8.
Kiwi opener Colin Munro (64) and No. 3 batsman Tim Seifert (57) looked set to overhaul the Indian target till both were run out in the 12th and 20th over respectively. With 7 runs needed off the last over, the Kiwis simply crumbled in the over bowled by Shardul Thakur. Shardul dismissed Ross Taylor and Daryl Mitchell and Seifert and Mitchell Santner were run out as the match went into another Super Over.
Seifert and Munro walked out to face Bumrah in the Super Over. Seifert smashed 8 runs off the first 3 balls before falling to Bumrah. Munro hit the fifth ball for a boundary and took a single off the last ball. New Zealand reached 13.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul walked out to chase down the 14-run target. Rahul hit the first ball from Southee for a six and the second for a four before getting dismissed. With 4 to get off 3 balls, Kohli took 2 runs off the fourth delivery and hit a boundary off the fifth ball as India registered their second successive victory in a Super Over in the series. India eventually went on to win the series 5-0. This was the first time a team had won a T20I bilateral series 5-0.
2012 – Chennai, 2nd T20I: New Zealand won by 1 run
With the first T20I of the 2012 series in Visakhapatnam abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain, the second T20I in Chennai on September 11, 2012, became a one-off decider. India captain MS Dhoni won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat first.
Batting at No. 3, Brendon McCullum smashed 3 sixes and 11 fours enroute his 55-ball 91 to take New Zealand to 167/5. Irfan Pathan took 3/31.
Opener Virat Kohli slammed a 41-ball 70 before falling to James Franklin. Yuvraj Singh, making a comeback after his battle with cancer, hit a 26-ball 34. With 13 needed off the last over, Franklin conceded a leg bye off the first ball before being hit for a four by Dhoni off the second. After bowling a wide and giving away a single to Dhoni, Franklin clean bowled Yuvraj off a slower delivery to end his valiant effort. Next man in Rohit Sharma could hit the next two balls for two runs each as India lost by just one run, with Dhoni left stranded on an unbeaten 22.
2019 – Hamilton, 3rd T20I: New Zealand won by 4 runs
With the 2019 series locked at 1-1, the decider turned out to be a run-fest in Hamilton on February 10, 2019. India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat first. Tim Seifert (43) and Colin Munro (72) put up an 80-run opening stand before both fell to Kuldeep Yadav. The rest of the Kiwi batsmen made full use of the strong start and kept smashing from the word go to power the team’s total to a huge 212/4.
India lost Shikhar Dhawan (5) early, but Rohit (38) and Vijay Shankar (43), who was promoted up the order, put on 75 runs for the second wicket to lead the Indian run chase. But the dismissals of Rishabh Pant, Rohit, Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni in four consecutive overs again put the Kiwis on top. It boiled down to India needing 16 runs off the last over. Dinesh Karthik (33*) and Krunal Pandya (26*) tried their best, but India still fell short by 4 runs and New Zealand won the 3-match series 2-1.
2017 – Thiruvananthapuram, 3rd T20I: India won by 6 runs
A series-decider shortened by rain to eight overs a side in Thiruvananthapuram on November 7, 2017. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and asked India to bat first. Tim Southee and Ish Sodhi took 2 wickets each in their 2 overs each as India managed 67/5 in their 8 overs. Manish Pandey top scored for India with a 17-run knock.
Jasprit Bumrah took 2 wickets in his 2-over spell but conceded 10 runs in the penultimate over of the Kiwi run chase. Hardik Pandya was entrusted with the task of defending 19 runs off the last over and though Colin de Grandhomme hit a six off the third ball, the Kiwis fell short by 6 runs as India won the 3-match series 2-1.
Test matches
2010-12
The Times of India
See graphic:
India vs. New Zealand Cricket tests played 2010-2012 in India
...till September 2016
The Times of India
See graphic:
India vs. New Zealand Cricket tests played before Sept 2016
2019
ODI series
Napier: India wins
January 24, 2019: The Times of India
From: January 24, 2019: The Times of India
India Crush NZ By 8 wkts In Napier ODI After Bowlers Dismiss Hosts For 157
India produced cricket of the calibre that has become synonymous with Virat Kohli’s men to crush New Zealand in the first ODI but a bizarre and unprecedented sun-induced interruption overshadowed the on-field action here Wednesday. Entering the five-match rubber following maiden Test and ODI series triumphs in Australia, India signalled their intent with a clinical display, which saw them chase down a revised target of 156 by eights wickets in 34.5 overs.
The Duckworth-Lewis method came into the picture for an interruption which was not caused by rain for the first time.
On a near-perfect day, the only thing that didn’t go their way was the toss. But India made light of that by bowling out the home team for a paltry 157 in 38 overs.
Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler, returning figures of 4/39 in 10 overs, while seamer Mohammed Shami finished with an excellent 3/19 in six overs. There were also two wickets for leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Captain Kane Williamson topscored for the hosts with 64 off 81 balls. In response, Shikhar Dhawan began the innings with a flurry of boundaries, eventually finishing as the top-scorer with 75 off 103 balls.
The left-handed opening batman, battling indifferent form, studded his innings with six boundaries. India were comfortably placed at 44 for one when, in a bizarre turn of events, players walked off the ground after dinner because the setting sun made it difficult for them to spot the ball at McLean Park.
This led to an interruption that has never been seen in international cricket before.
Because of the nearly half-anhour delay, the target was revised to 156 in 49 overs, which the visitors chased without much ado.
While Rohit Sharma may have lost his focus after the dinner break, Kohli and Dhawan didn’t let the sun-induced stoppage distract their minds when play resumed. Kohli, though, got out five short of a fifty.
The Indian captain hit three boundaries in his 59-ball knock before pacer Lockie Ferguson had him caught behind with a quick delivery that caught the batsman by surprise. In the course of his 26th ODI fifty, Dhawan became the joint fourth fastest batsman to reach 5000 runs. Dhawan needed 118 innings to reach the mark.
This knock will bring some relief for Dhawan as he hasn’t scored a half century in his last nine innings. Earlier, opting to bat, the New Zealanders were off to an inauspicious start, losing both openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro within the first five overs with just 18 runs on the board.
By sending back Guptill in his 56th match, the 28-year-old Shami became the fastest Indian to reach 100 wickets in ODIs.
Coming into the series after a hugely successful 2018, Ross Taylor looked good in his 41-ball 24, but he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Chahal, who lured the batsman to dance down the pitch a tad too early with his change of pace.
Till Taylor was there alongside Williamson, things looked good for New Zealand, as the duo played a few delightful shots, especially the skipper whose trademark backfoot punch through the covers stood out.
Tom Latham was dismissed in similar fashion, with leg-spinner Chahal being the bowler.
Sun stops play
January 24, 2019: The Times of India
Rain often disrupts cricket, but in New Zealand it was the sun that forced players off the field on Wednesday during the One-Day International against India. The low angle of the sun hitting the Napier wicket was too much for batsmen, fielders and umpires, and senior umpire Shaun George took the players off the field with India 44 for one in reply to New Zealand’s 157.
“Everyone is being protected,” George said, adding it was the first time he had experienced play called off because of the sun.
It was a welcome break for India captain Virat Kohli, who had previously been dismissed when the sun was in his eyes.
“In 2014, this (sun break) rule wasn’t there. I actually got out in a game feeling like the sun was in my eyes,” he said.
“I’m glad it is (a rule) now because it was impossible to watch the ball in that particular phase. It was funny but it was something new.”
Play resumed after about 30 minutes, with the disruption reducing the match by one over. India’s target was reduced by two runs to 156, which they easily reached in 34.5 overs.
Mount Maunganui: India wins
January 27, 2019: The Times of India
From: January 27, 2019: The Times of India
MEN IN BLUE CRUSH KIWIS BY 90 RUNS, TAKE 2-0 LEAD
Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal continued to torment New Zealand batsmen after a collective batting effort, guiding India to an emphatic 90-run win in the second ODI. India now lead the five-match series 2-0.
Opting to bat, India piled up a challenging 324 for 4, riding on Rohit Sharma (87) and Shikhar Dhawan (66)’s fluent half-centuries. There were significant contributions from captain Virat Kohli (43), Ambati Rayudu (47) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (48 not out).
Kedar Jadhav contributed a quickfire 22 not out in just 10 balls as he and Dhoni added 53 runs in final 4.2 overs for the unconquered fifth wicket.
The visiting bowlers then shot New Zealand out for 234 in 40.2 overs as India scored a comprehensive win to celebrate the country’s Republic Day in style.
Kuldeep and Chahal shared bulk of the spoils. Like in the first ODI, Kuldeep took four wickets while Chahal accounted for two.
The home side batsmen offered very little resistance save Doug Bracewell, who top-scored with 57. Kuldeep claimed consecutive wickets of Henry Nicholls and Ish Sodhi in the 31st over, as he polished off the New Zealand innings in a burst of three overs.
Chasing a stiff target of 325, New Zealand lost their top four batsmen, including skipper Kane Williamson (20) and senior pro Ross Taylor (22), by the 18th over when they touched 100-run mark.
The Kiwis were denied a strong start with Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (2/42) and Mohammed Shami (1/43) bowling with a lot of discipline.
When India batted, Rohit missed out on a chance to hit his first ODI in New Zealand. Rohit and Dhawan gave India a flying start with a 154-run opening stand from 25.2 overs during which the New Zealand bowlers were hit all over the park.
Dhawan was out in the 26th over as he thickedged a Trent Boult (2/61) delivery to Latham in the 26th over. He had nine boundaries in his 67-ball innings. Rohit, on the other hand, looked set for a century as he was batting beautifully but in the end fell short of the three-figure mark by 13 runs.
Paceman Lockie Ferguson (2/81), who was generating a lot of pace, removed the dashing Indian batsman who failed to put down a pull shot off a slower ball in the 30th over. Rohit had nine boundaries and three sixes in his 96-ball innings.
One-down Kohli and Rayudu did not give any respite to the Kiwi bowlers as the duo stitched 64 runs for the third wicket from 9.4 overs.
Kohli was in his imperious touch before he became Boult’s second victim in the 40th over.
Dhoni and Jadhav added 86 runs in the final 10 overs. Dhoni hit five boundaries and one six in his 33-ball unbeaten knock.
India wins the series
January 29, 2019: The Times of India
From: January 29, 2019: The Times of India
From: January 29, 2019: The Times of India
Mount Maunganui
A formidable Indian team completely dominated an out of sorts New Zealand for a series-clinching seven-wicket win in the third ODI, continuing to send a resounding message of its near invincibility to every World Cup opposition. With an unassailable lead in the five-match series, skipper Virat Kohli signed off his tour Down Under on a high with a first ODI series win in New Zealand in 10 years. However, it is to be noted that prior to this, India played just one series here since the one in 2009.
It was a complete team effort after the bowlers shot New Zealand out for 243 in 49 overs with allrounder Hardik Pandya (2/45 in 10 overs) making his presence felt with the ball as well as on the field. Pandya was playing his first match after the suspension on him for sexist remarks on a TV show was lifted.
“Three clinical games for us. I couldn’t have asked for a better performance after the first two clinical games. The relentlessness of the side is something that really pleases me,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation.
The chase was a cakewalk with skipper Kohli (60, 74 balls) and his deputy Rohit Sharma (62, 77 balls) adding 113 runs for the second wicket to set up the victory in only 43 overs. “When a guy doesn’t get runs in a couple of games, he’s actually hungry to score runs and the opposition feels a bit nervous because he’s gonna fire at some stage. So, that’s the kind of confidence we carry in the team right now,” Kohli said.
With the pitch on the slower side, the two fluent stroke-players had to keep it slower than usual but even that didn’t come in the way of another comprehensive performance. Once Shikhar Dhawan (28, 6x4) was dismissed, caught in the slips off Trent Boult, Rohit, who till then went slow, opened up. He signalled his intentions with a straight six off Mitchell Santner.
Kohli, at the other end, punched Lockie Ferguson through the point and then hit Ish Sodhi for two boundaries. The first was a top spinner that was pulled to the mid-wicket region while the next was a wrong ‘un on the fifth stump which he cut for another boundary. Rohit, who now has 39 half-centuries, was stumped off Santner’s bowling, when he tried to go for a hoick. His innings had three boundaries and two sixes. Kohli, who now has 49 halfcenturies in ODIs, also hit six fours apart from the the six off Ferguson. Just when a 40th ODI ton was looking imminent, Kohli’s uppish drive off Boult failed to clear Henry Nicholls at extra cover.
However, Dinesh Karthik (38, 38 balls) and Ambati Rayudu (40, 42 balls) saw the team through with an unbroken 77-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Hamilton: NZ wins
February 1, 2019: The Times of India
From: February 1, 2019: The Times of India
Bowler’s Fifer Helps NZ Decimate India In ODI
India seemed shorn of their aura in the absence of talismanic skipper Virat Kohli as pacer Trent Boult’s fiery five-wicket haul guided New Zealand to a stunning eightwicket win in the fourth One-dayer, halting the visitors’ domination.
With run-machine Kohli rested after the side claimed an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the fivematch series, India’s much-vaunted batting was dismissed for its seventh lowest ODI total — 92 in 30.5 overs here — after Boult (5/21) dished out a deadly opening spell.
It was also the lowest total posted by any side on this venue, the previous lowest of 122 also against India’s name. Boult wreaked havoc with the new ball and in Colin de Grandhomme’s (3/26) company utilised the swinging conditions at the Seddon Park perfectly.
In the absence of Kohli and an injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian batting unit found the going tough against the Kiwi bowling attack. India’s lowest ODI total is 54 against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 2000. It was also India’s second lowest total in ODIs against New Zealand, having somehow managed to surpass the 88 scored at Dambulla.
Bowling his 10 overs at a stretch, Boult troubled the Indian batsmen with both ways movement to return with impressive figures of 5 for 21, while Grandhomme gave him perfect support from the other end after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl.
While chasing, even though New Zealand lost Martin Guptill (14) and skipper Kane Williamson (11) early to Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/25), the hosts completed the formalities in 14.4 overs with eight wickets in hand.
Henry Nicholls (30 not out) and Ross Taylor (37 not out) then completed the easy task for the Kiwis without any further damage.
Earlier, the pitch didn’t seem unplayable but the Indian batsmen failed to apply themselves against the swing bowling of Boult and Grandhomme. Only four Indian batsnmen — Shikhar Dhawan (13), Hardik Pandya (16), Kuldeep Yadav (15) and Yuzvendra Chahal (18 not out) — posted double digit scores.
Dhawan’s search for big runs continued and he was the first to depart, caught plumb in front of the wicket by Boult in the sixth over. Rohit, who is leading India in the last two matches of the series in the absence of Kohli, didn’t have a happy outing on his 200th ODI and was caught by Boult off his own bowling an over later. Grandhomme then joined the party and dismissed both Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik for ducks. A lot was expected from debutant Shubman Gill (9) but pressure got the better of him as he got out like Rohit, caught by Boult off his own bowling.
Wellington: India wins match, and series 4-1
February 4, 2019: The Times of India
From: February 4, 2019: The Times of India
Rayudu, Pandya & Chahal Star As India Eke Out 35-Run Win In 4th ODI, Take Series 4-1
A commanding knock of 90 by Ambati Rayudu rescued India from deep trouble and saw them beat New Zealand by 35 runs in the fifth One-Day International in Wellington to wrap up the series 4-1.
Captain Rohit Sharma admitted he took a gamble — and Rayudu made sure it paid off — when he opted to bat first instead of playing to India’s strength, which is chasing totals down.
They made a disastrous start and were four for 18 before Rayudu, with help from Vijay Shankar, steered the side to 252 and New Zealand in reply were all out for 217. “That partnership was crucial,” Sharma said.
“It was not easy after losing four wickets at the start and then to build that partnership and get to a decent total, I thought 250 was a really good score on that pitch.”
India went into the match with an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series and looking to atone for their sole loss, an eight-wicket defeat in the previous match at Hamilton.
“If the series was on the line I would have batted second, it’s our strength to chase but we wanted to test ourselves, how we bat,” Sharma said. “We required guys to show character and they came out and showed a lot of character today.”
Four months out from the World Cup the series highlighted the gulf between second-ranked India and third-ranked New Zealand. It did look as if India were heading for another defeat when Matt Henry and Trent Boult ripped out the first four wickets in under 10 overs.
But when the swing bowlers were taken out of the equation, Rayudu and Shankar toyed with the attack, putting on 98 for the fifth wicket before Shankar was run out at 45. Rayudu, who faced 84 deliveries to reach 44, needed only 27 more for his remaining 46 runs in an innings that included eight fours and four sixes.
He had a life on 60 when dropped by Boult and was eventually removed when Henry, New Zealand’s most successful bowler, came back for his second spell. Hardik Pandya provided late fireworks for India with 45 off 22 deliveries, while Henry finished with four for 35.
New Zealand batted through to the 45th over, which captain Kane Williamson described as “a step in the right direction” after being comprehensively beaten in the first three games of the series.
Like India, New Zealand’s top order also went cheaply, before a 67-run stand by Williamson (39) and Tom Latham (37) for the fourth wicket. But after they went in quick succession Yuzvendra Chahal led a spin assault that saw the hosts all out for 217, with Chahal taking three wickets for 41 with all of them being leg-befores.
T20s
Wellington: New Zealand wins
February 7, 2019: The Times of India
From: February 7, 2019: The Times of India
India Slump To Heaviest T20 Defeat In First Match Of Series
A below-par India slumped to their worst defeat in T20 Internationals as New Zealand outclassed the visitors in all departments to win the first match of the series by a comprehensive 80-run margin here on Wednesday. Batting first, unheralded wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert took the Indian bowling apart blasting 84 off 43 balls as New Zealand posted a commanding 219 for six.
With the star opening pair of skipper Rohit Sharma (1) and Shikhar Dhawan (29) departing within the Powerplay overs, the chase became a difficult one and India were all out for 139 in 19.2 overs. MS Dhoni (39 off 31 balls) did play his part but it was always an impossible chase with wickets falling at regular intervals at the other end. India had never lost a T20 International by 50 or more runs prior to this match. India’s previous worst was a 49-run loss to Australia back in 2010.
“We failed to get a good partnership. 200 was never going to be easy to chase,” said Rohit in the post-match presentation.
New Zealand bowlers kept the pressure on Indian batsmen, especially the two spinners -- leftarm orthodox Mitchell Santner (2/24 in 4 overs) and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi (2/26 in 3 overs).
Senior pacer Tim Southee (3/17 in 4 overs) had the best figures among the bowlers and the best delivery of the match was bowled by Lockie Ferguson, who yorked Dhawan.
They kept the batsmen under tight check and for some like World Cup aspirant Rishabh Pant (4, 10 balls), it was a frustrating little stay in the middle and he simply couldn’t get going.
On a pitch where Indian spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (1/35 in 4 overs) and Krunal (1/37 in 4 overs) went for plenty, the Black Caps slow bowlers literally tightened the noose on the visitors.
While Pant didn’t do his chances any good, Vijay Shankar (27 off 17 balls) impressed during his little cameo but would need to do more in order to book a place in that World Cup bound squad.
The Pandya bothers -- Krunal and Hardik -- endured a contrasting day. While Krunal (he also scored 20 off 18 balls) had an okay outing, Hardik would quickly like to forget the nightmare (2/51 in 4 overs and 4 runs) before India play the second match of the series in Auckland on Friday.
Earlier, Tim Seifert, whose previous best score in T20 Internationals happens to be 14, was promoted to open alongside Colin Munro (34 off 20 balls) and they added 86 runs in only 8.2 overs in a whirlwind start.
Seifert’s knock had seven fours and half a dozen sixes, setting the tone for a big total.
Seifert showed the intent straightaway as he gave Bhuvneshwar Kumar the charge, picking the knuckle ball early, dispatching it over mid-wicket for a six. The next shot was a four as he stood and hammered past the bowler.
With Munro hitting Khaleel Ahmed (1/48 in 4 overs) for two successive sixes, New Zealand were off to a blazing start scoring 44 off the first four overs.
Seifert was lucky to survive when Dhoni dropped a sharp chance after the batsman had edged one off Krunal.But he promptly put the next delivery into the stands.
There weren’t any signs of overt footwork but he shuffled enough inside the crease to make room for the big shots and in the process disturbed the line and length of the bowlers. When Hardik drifted on the leg stump, he was flicked behind the square and when he pitched wide outside off-stump, he was lofted over the cover point region.
Auckland: India’s maiden T20I victory on New Zealand soil
From: India Level Series With Maiden T20I Win on NZ Soil; Krunal, Rohit, Rishabh Play Lead Roles, February 9, 2019: The Times of India
MS Dhoni watched from 22 yards as heir apparent Rishabh Pant guided India to their maiden T20 International victory on New Zealand soil.
The seven-wicket triumph was set up by skipper Rohit Sharma (50 off 29 balls) in company of Shikhar Dhawan (30, 31 balls). The duo’s 79-run stand came after Krunal Pandya got three wickets to restrict the hosts to 158/8.
With his whirlwind fifty, Rohit also became the top run-getter in the format, surpassing Martin Guptill. “Very pleased to see how we bowled, and we were quite clinical with the bat as well,” Rohit said.
Dhoni, the original master finisher, couldn’t have been happier as he saw Pant control what could have been a tricky 159-run chase with an unbeaten 40 off 28 balls.
The series is now tied 1-1 with the decider in Hamilton on Sunday.
With the former India captain (20 not out off 17 balls) playing the role of a mentor at the other end, the 44-run stand was very significant as Indian cricket slowly moves towards a change of guard in coming days.
Pant’s one-handed six off Tim Southee or the bowler’s back drive off Scott Kuggeleijn to finish off the match were reminiscent of Dhoni’s best days. He hit four boundaries and a six in all. While bowling, Krunal Pandya enhanced his already growing reputation as a steady short format bowler with three important breakthroughs as India restricted New Zealand to 158/8.
Krunal (3/28 in 4 overs) dismissed Colin Munro (12) and skipper Kane Williamson (20) to peg the Black Caps back early in the innings. In between, Krunal also got the wicket of Daryl Mitchell
(1), who fell pray to an umpiring howler when ‘Hotspot’ showed a clear inside edge onto the pads.
However, Colin de Grandhomme, who has played for KKR in the IPL, then counter-attacked, scoring a blistering 50 off 28 balls, adding 77 runs with Ross Taylor (42 off 36 balls) for the fifth wicket. Once De Grandhomme was sent back to the dug-out by Hardik Pandya (1/36 in 4 overs) and Taylor was run-out, New Zealand’s chances of a big total went up in smoke.
It was a much-improved performance by the Indian bowlers with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/29 in 4 overs) removing Tim Seifert (12) in the very third over with a fuller delivery, inducing an inside edge to MS Dhoni behind the stumps. However, it was Krunal, who really applied the brakes after being brought inside the Powerplay overs.
The elder Pandya quickly found the ideal length, bowling his usual wicket to wicket deliveries with a flatter trajectory. Both Munro and Williamson got skidders. While the left-handed opener Munro hit one straight to the cover, Williamson was caught plumb in-front. However, it was the dismissal of Mitchell that once again raised the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ debate even though it was a clear case of an umpiring howler by TV umpire Shaun Haig.
At 50 for 4, it was De Grandhomme, who took charge as he attacked Yuzvendra Chahal (0/37 in 4 overs), hitting him for a couple of sixes.
Hamilton: NZ win match, T20 series
FOUR SHORT OF A PERFECT FINISH, February 11, 2019: The Times of India
From: FOUR SHORT OF A PERFECT FINISH, February 11, 2019: The Times of India
India Denied Undefeated Overseas Season As Kiwis Clinch T20I Series
New Zealand denied India a perfect finish to their highly successful overseas season by clinching the T20 series 2-1 with a slender four-run win in the series-deciding third match here on Sunday. India savoured a historic Test and ODI bilateral series win in Australia before recording their biggest ODI series win on New Zealand soil.
A first ever T20 series win would have been an icing on the cake but the hosts held their nerves to pull off a thrilling victory. With Sunday’s result, India have lost their first T20 series after winning nine and drawing one. India needed to knock off a stiff 213-run target to bring curtains on a memorable three-month tour in a befitting manner but fell just short.
Exploiting batting friendly conditions at the small Seddon Park ground, New Zealand cut the Indian attack to shreds to post an imposing 212 for four. Opener Colin Munro produced a 40-ball 72 and shared a 80-run stand with fellow opener Tim Seifert (43) to lay foundation for a big score.
Krunal Pandya was the most expensive of the Indian bowlers, bleeding 54 runs in his four-over quota. If it was not for left-arm Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (2/26)’s tight bowling in the middle-overs and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/37), India would have got a bigger target to chase.
India captain Rohit Sharma, who usually bats explosive in such situations, made an uncharacteristical 32-ball 38 and it also hurt India’s chances. Vijay Shankar (43 off 28) played a useful knock though at the top after Shikhar Dhawan (5) fell early. Rishabh Pant (28 off 12) and Hardik Pandya (21 off 11) infused some life into India’s chase with some brutal hitting but perished while trying to keep up with a steep scoring rate. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2 off 4) also could not do much.
India needed 16 runs off the final over and Dinesh Karthik (33 not out off 16) after taking a double off the first ball, stunned the crowd and his teammates by refusing to take a single in the third ball. Krunal (26 not out off 30) had reached the striker’s end but Karthik did not run, sending his partner back. This was after umpire did not give a clear wide bowled by Tim Southee.
Karthik could only manage a single off the next ball as Southee bowled a straight ball. By then, the match had clearly slipped out of India’s hands. Both Karthik and Krunal did exceedingly well to take the game into the final over but their unbeaten 63-run stand off 28 balls did not prove to be enough.
New Zealand bowlers fared much better than India, consistently hitting the short-of-length, which proved to be key on this small ground. Pant though changed the pace of Indian innings with his scintillating batting.
2022
ODIs
Auckland: NZ wins
Nov 26, 2022: The Times of India
Auckland : Indian bowlers crumbled in the face of Tom Latham’s counter-attacking hundred as New Zealand rallied to crush India by seven wickets in the first ODI. On a ground where a 300-plus total had been chased only once, India fancied their chances after posting 306 for seven and then leaving the New Zealanders at 88 for three in the 20th over.
The hosts had the last laugh in the end though, reaching the target with 17 balls to spare thanks to Latham’s unbeaten 104-ball 145 and skipper Kane Williamson’s 94 not out as they added 221 runs for an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership. At the end of the 39th over, New Zealand needed 91 in 66 balls.
By the time Shardul Thakur (1/63) had completed a forgettable 40th over, the hosts were in total control of the game, with Latham amassing 25 runs with the help of four fours and a six. That over swung the match firmly in New Zealand’s favour. Latham’s belligerent innings comprised as many as 19 boundaries and five sixes, while Williamson hit seven fours and one maximum.
Tearaway pacer Umran Malik(2/66) made his presence felt on debut with his thunderbolts after an impressive show by the Indian batters, though the youngster proved to be expensive. Brief Scores: New Zealand 309 for 3 (Latham 145*, Williamson 94*, Malik 2-66) beat India 306 for 7 (Iyer 80, Dhawan 72; Ferguson 3-59, Southee 3-73) by seven wickets. Shikhar doesn’t get accolades he deserves, says Shastri:
With attention mostly centered around the likes of Virat Kohli, seasoned opener Shikhar Dhawan “doesn't get the accolades that he deserves” despite delivering both as a player and captain, feels former India coach Ravi Shastri.
“He’s vastly experienced. He doesn’t get the accolades that he deserves. To be honest, most of the spotlight is on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. But when you look at his one-day cricket record, and you look at some of the innings he has played against top teams in big games, it’s an outstanding record,” Shastri said on broadcasters Prime Video. PTI
India loses series to New Zealand, 0-1
Dec 1, 2022: The Times of India
Christchurch : A sloppy India lost the three-match ODI series against New Zealand 0-1 after rain washed out the third and final game here on Wednesday. Chasing 220, New Zealand were cruising at 104/1 in 18 overs, 50 runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis par score, when rain interrupted the game yet again in the white-ball series.
Kane Williamson and Co, needing just 116 runs from as many as 32 overs, though had to be content with a ‘no result’ as the game was two overs short to be technically called complete. Having won the first ODI in Auckland by seven wickets, New Zealand thus sealed the series 1-0. The second match in Hamilton, too, was abandoned after two stoppages.
It all began with an inspiring bowling show by the Kiwi pacers with comeback man Adam Milne (3/57) and Daryl Mitchell (7-0-25-3) bundling out India for 219 in 47. 3 overs after Williamson won a good toss at an overcast Hagley Oval. The likes of Rishabh Pant (10 off 16 balls), Suryakumar Yadav (6; 10b) and Deepak Hooda (12; 25b) were thebiggest failures as they lacked application and failed to bide their time.
Seeking to save the series, India found themselves in a spot of bother, losing half of the side in 25. 3 overs. But thanks to the efforts by Washington Sundar (51 off 64 balls; 5x4s, 1x6) and Shreyas Iyer (49; 59b) India managed to get past the 200-run mark. Finn Allen (57 from 54 balls) smashed his fourth ODI fifty and his 97-run opening partnership with Devon Conway (38) set the tone.
PTI
2023
ODIs
Hyderabad: India wins
Solomon S Kumar, January 19, 2023: The Times of India
HYDERABAD: After scripting a fairytale-like series win in Pakistan recently, New Zealand seem to have carried the luck with them across the Wagah Border as they nearly pulled off an improbable victory in the first ODI of the three-match series against India.
Chasing 350 for victory, the Kiwis fell 13 short as they finished at 337 with Michael Bracewell scaring the Indians with his 140 in 78 balls (4x12, 6x10).
While Shubman Gill blazed a double century under the afternoon sun, Bracewell took the fight to the opposition in the night, striking his second ODI century. The first one an unbeaten 127 against Ireland was in a successful 300 plus chase. Australian Glenn Maxwell is the only other batter at No. 7-11 to score a century in a 300-plus successful chase in ODIs. With Mitchell Santner in tow, Bracewell caught the Indians unaware after being reduced to 131 for six in the 29th over. The Kiwis needed 219 off 21 overs with four wickets in hand and no one gave them a chance, but the duo launched into the Indian attack and runs began to flow at a steady pace. At the end of the 45th over, New Zealand were 291 for six and needed 59 off 30 balls.
Rohit Sharma threw the ball to Mohd Siraj, who had just one over left, and the Hyderabadi had Santner (57) caught by Suryakumar Yadav off the fourth ball to end a defiant 162-run stand. Siraj followed it up by castling Henry Shipley (0). Siraj ended with his second consecutive four-wicket haul (4/46). This is the best bowling figure on this ground, erasing Umesh Yadav’s four for 53 against Sri Lanka in 2014.
Hardik Pandya conceded just four in the 49th over and Shardul Thakur trapped Michael leg before off the second ball of the last over with the visitors needing 13 for victory.
Earlier, it was 23-year-old Gill who stole the limelight from his more illustrious teammates like Rohit and Virat Kohli. Riding on Gill’s 149-ball 208 (4x19, 6x9), India coasted to a huge 349 for eight. In the process, Gill not only cemented his position at the top of the order but also assured himself of a place in the World Cup squad later in the year. Gill took his time to settle down even as Rohit did the scoring in their 60-run first wicket partnership but as the sun set, Gill exploded. He struck six sixes in the 48th and 49th overs to take India to an impregnable position. Incidentally, Gill got his half-century with a six, reached 99 with his second six and moved from 147 to 153 with the third one. Then he moved from 182 to 200 with sixes off three consecutive balls.
Rohit (34; 38b, 4x,4, 6x2) didn’t last long as his attempt to hit a Blair Tickner delivery over his head, resulted in a mishit that was gobbled up by Daryl Mitchell at mid-on. Santner, who was brought on in the ninth over, sent back Kohli (8) in the 16th over to leave India at 88 for two. Ishan Kishan (5) too fell cheaply but Gill and Suryakumar Yadav steadied the innings. Gill made the most of the reprieve he got from Tom Latham off Bracewell when he was on 45. He moved from 46 to 52 with his first six and there was no turning back thereafter. Gill kept pace with SKY as the duo added 65 for the fourth wicket before the latter fell for 31. Gill then struck his second six and stole a single to reach the coveted three-figure mark.
Raipur, 2nd ODI: India won
Gaurav Gupta, January 22, 2023: The Times of India
Raipur : Skipper Rohit Sharma’s pause at the toss seems to have been the only time India slowed down in this game! Inspired by their old warhorses Mohammed Shami (3-18 in 6 overs) and Rohit himself (51; 50b, 7x4, 2x6), India crushed a disappointing New Zealand by eight wickets in the second ODI at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, which was staging its maiden international game. India thus wrapped up the ODI series 2-0 in convincing fashion, with the final game on Tuesday in Indore now j ust a formality. This is India’s seventh ODI series win at home in a row overall, and their seventh straight ODI series win against New Zealand on home soil. It was the sort of sizzling performance which augurs well for Rohit and Co. in an ODI World Cup year. India completely outplayed New Zealand on a pacer-friendly pitch. After India elected to bowl first on a surface which was aiding generous lateral movement, their pacers, led by Shami, fired on all cylinders to shoot out a listless New Zealand, who recorded their third-lowest ODI score against India. The whole Kiwi innings was over by 4:07 pm, and the match was done and dusted by 6:25 pm, advancing the timing of a post-match laser show! Chasing 109, Rohit and Shubman Gill (40*, 53b; 6x4), fresh off his double hundred in the first ODI, rubbed salt into the Kiwi wounds, adding 72 in 84 balls for the first wicket. When Gilldanced down the track to loft Mitchell Santner over mid-on, India sealed the game with as many as 179 balls to spare. It was their third biggest win in ODIs in terms of balls to spare. While Virat Kohli (11) was scalped by Santner again, Rohit’s terrific half-century, his 48th in ODIs, will give India plenty to cheer about. Apart from a few delightful drives, the two sixes that he hit, a ferocious, trademark pull off Lockie Ferguson and then a superb shot over extra cover off Blair Tickner, delighted the 60,000-strong crowd. It was amusing to watch the Kiwi batters, who were way too tentative. The game seemed to be done and dusted when India’s four-pronged pace attack of Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya destroyed theKiwi top order. New Zealand had collapsed to 15/5 by the 11th over and were, at one point, in danger of being skittled out for their lowest ODI score of 64. Somehow, the efforts of Glenn Philips (36; 52b, 5x4), Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell averted that embarrassment for the Kiwis, taking them past 100, but then they lost their last four wickets for five runs in 26 balls. It was Shami who began India’s relentless assault with the ball. Following up four consecutive outswingers with a ball that swung in beautifully, he castled Kiwi opener Finn Allen. Next to go was Henry Nicholls, who edged an away-going delivery by Siraj to Gill at slip. Things became worse for the Kiwis when Daryll Mitchell spooned a catch back to Shami.
Details
Gaurav Gupta, January 22, 2023: The Times of India
From: Gaurav Gupta, January 22, 2023: The Times of India
Raipur : At a time when Jasprit Bumrah has been unavailable, the reassuring presence of Mohammed Shami is extremely vital in India’s ODI set-up.
Shami proved his worth yet again, destroying the opposition’s top-order. Swinging the ball like a banana while slipping in the odd bouncer, he could have added to his tally, and perhaps bagged a fifer too, but the Kiwis folded up way too early. There was some help for the Indian seamers on a pitch which was still a bit damp, but Shami and Co. still deserve credit for bowling a nagging line and length. “The conditions were notas good as it seemed. They got out early, but conditions were not overtly bowler friendly. We dismissed them cheaply by bowling a testing length,” Shami said. On being quizzed about his role in the team now, Shami said: “My role hasn’t changed since I have come into the team. The only thing is to keep working on the fitness and diet. We have got big events coming up, so the aim is to contribute in every game. ”
There’s a bit of Zaheer Khan in Shami. Apart from swinging the ball to all corners, Shami, like ‘Zak,’ loves to play as many matches as possible. Match practice, he believes, is the key to finding the right rhythm. Askedabout how he would manage his workload in a year which will soon see a four-Test series against Australia, a possible WTC final and the ODI World Cup, Shami said, “I always prefer playing matches over practice. It is always better to play maximum numbers of games to get ready for a big event. The workload is being managed properly. I just hope the main players stay in a good zone ahead of the World Cup. ”
Like most seniors, Shami seems to have been eased out of India’s T20 side. In the other two formats, though, he still remains India’s go-to bowler and has plenty left in the tank. If he keeps firing like he did on Saturday, India will have plenty to cheer about.
T20Is
Ranchi: New Zealand wins
Sourav M, January 28, 2023: The Times of India
From: Sourav M, January 28, 2023: The Times of India
Ranchi : Mahendra Singh Dhoni was at the stadium. One wishes the former India skipper – one of the finest cricketing brains and probably the best finisher in his prime – was on the field instead on a tricky, spin-friendly track at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium.
Skipper Hardik Pandya had said on the eve of the match that he had “squeezed a lot of knowledge out of him (MSD), there’s not much left now”, but there appeared to be moments in Friday’s game when Pandya could have done with Dhoni’s advice.
With his spinners (10-0-56-3) returning far better figures than the pacers (10-0-119-3) combined, Pandya paid the price for not completing Deepak Hooda’s quota after the off-spinning allrounder gave only 14 runs from his two overs.
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh’s 27-run last over, with Daryl Mitchell swinging his bat around, and the skipper’s 16-run 17th over proved too costly in the end as India succumbed to a 21-run defeat in the first T20I to hand the Kiwis a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, and their first win on this tour.
However, the captain is not theonly one to blame as his batters, especially the top order, failed spectacularly, and the 177-run target proved a tall ask in the end.
India were down to 15/3 in 3. 1 overs. Suryakumar Yadav and Pandya arrested the slide and then tried to build a partnership, but SKY’s untimely dismissal in the 12th over meant another setback. The pair’s 68-run stand off 51 balls for the fourth wicket did raise the hopes of a jampacked stadium but Surya miscued a googly off Ish Sodhi to wide long-on to dampen the mood.
The captain departed next over, top-edging a straighter delivery from off-spinner Michael Bracewell. No. 6 Washington Sundar then waged a lone battle for a 28-ball 50 but that was not enough to see India home.
Earlier, the Kiwis started on the fast lane, racing to 37 for no loss in the first four overs. Then spinners Sundar, Hooda and Kuldeep Yadav did an excellent job in the middle overs to peg back the visitors, who were only 123/3 after the end of the 16th over.
But the two big overs in the end swung the deal. Half-centuries by opener Devon Conway (52 off 35 balls, 7x4, 2x6) and Daryl Mitchell (59*off 30b, 3x4, 5x6) were the highlights.
Lucknow: India wins
January 30, 2023: The Times of India
From: January 30, 2023: The Times of India
From: January 30, 2023: The Times of India
Lucknow : Indian spinners revelled on a turning track before the batters made heavy weather of a small target to register a scrappy series levelling win over New Zealand in the second T20 International.
The trio of Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav impressed on a helping surface to limit a self-destructing New Zealand to 99 for eight, their lowest total against India in the shortest format.
It should have been a straight-forward run chase but the top-order comprising Ishan Kishan (19 off 32), Shubman Gill (11 off 9) and Rahul Tripathi (13 off 18) had a tough time again in spin-friendly conditions. In the end, Hardik Pandya (15 not out off 20) and Suryakumar Yadav (26 not out off 31) took the team over the line with a ball to spare and six wickets in hand.
The series decider will be played in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
With the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli not playing T20s since the World Cup last year, opportunities have been presented to the younger players who are yet to make them count. Kishanhas gone off the boil since his double hundred in Bangladesh while Gill has not been able to carry on his scintillating ODI form into T20s. The stylish right-hander fell while trying to pull a spinner for the second game in a row but was surprised by the amount of turn.
Tripathi, who is getting to play at number three in Kohli’s absence, was unable to take the attack to the New Zealand spinners. The Indians felt the pressure and that was evident with the run out of Washington Sundar, who sacrificed his wicket to ensure Surya’s stay in the middle.
Since the asking rate was never an issue, India could afford to stutter in the chase. A four after 45 balls, coming from Hardik’s bat in the 19th over, released a lot of pressure before the skipper completed the job alongside Surya who hit the winning four.
Earlier, Hardik decided to employ spinners from both ends in the powerplay after opening the bowling himself.
Wrist spinners Kuldeep (1/17) and Chahal (1/4) extracted a lot out of the Lucknow surface while finger spinner Washington (1/17) produced anothertidy spell. Chahal was left licking his lips after the first ball of his opening spell. It was a ripper that pitched on leg stump before beating the outside edge of Finn Allen’s bat. PTI
India wins Ahmedabad match and series 2- 1
Gaurav Gupta, February 2, 2023: The Times of India
From: Gaurav Gupta, February 2, 2023: The Times of India
Ahmedabad : This is a mauling the Kiwis won’t forget for a long time.
Relishing the best batting wicket by far of this T20I series, Gill unleashing a flurry of sublime strokes on both sides of the wicket tore into the hapless New Zealanders once again, cracking a magnificent, unconquered 126, which took him just 63 balls, and contained 12 eye-catching fours and seven big sixes on Wednesday night in the third and deciding T20I at a throbbing Narendra Modi Stadium.
Powered by Gill’s maiden T20I hundred, India marched to 234 for 4 in 20 overs – their biggest total against New Zealand in T20Is, and fifth-biggest overall, after choosing to bat first. Fittingly, the young turk’s first century in T20Is came on his IPL home ground, where he plays for the Gujarat Titans.
Hit by ‘Gill storm,’ the clearly shell-shocked Kiwis, looking in a hurry to catch the return flightback home, then folded up for a sorry-looking 66 in 12. 1 overs-their third-lowest score in T20Is. Led by skipper Hardik Pandya (4-16), A rshdeep Singh (2-16), Umran Malik (2-9) and Shivam Mavi (2-12), India came out all guns blazing, blasting New Zealand off the park in no time. Not to be forgotten were a couple of bli nders by Suryakumar Yadav at first slip.
Putting out a clinical, dominating show which saw them clinch the T20I series against the Black Caps 2-1, India raced away to a mind-boggling 168-r un win on the nightthe biggest victory margin in T20Is between two full member teams.
Gill’s ‘Masterclass’
There’s a lovely ‘ritual’ that Gill, the new superstar of Indian batting, follows every time he hits a hundred. He takes off his helmet, swings it with his hand, and lets out a roar which r everberates through the stadium, perhaps even touching the roof of the biggest stand. The wild celebration, the spreading of the hands like an eagle, is concluded with a respectful bow towards all, just like an artist would acknowledge the applause to his latest masterpiece!
While Gill was the ‘superhero’ of India’s batting, Rahul Tripathi (44, 22b, 4x4, 3x6), Suryakumar Yadav (24, 13b, 1x4, 2x6) and then skipper Hardik Pandya (30, 17b, 4x4, 1x6) all played the support act in perfect fashion. Gill’s sublime, breathtaking strokes left close to a lakh spectators at this stadium spell bound. Gill played regal drives through the covers and ferocious pulls and pick up shots to mid-wicket and lofted drives down the ground.
