Suryakumar Yadav (62) and Rohit Sharma (48) starred with the bat as India chased down 165 to defeat New Zealand by five wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series 💧at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday.
Chasing 165 for victory, India got off to a flying start as Rohit and KL Rahul added 50 runs for the opening wicket in just five overs. But, Mitchell Santner soon dismissed Rahul on 15🔯. Suryakumar then joined Rohit in theꦆ middle, and the duo took the hosts` close to the target.
The Black Caps got the much-needed breakthrough in the 14th over when Trent Boult remove𓂃d India skipper Rohit just two runs short of his half-century. However, ✅Suryakumar continued to smash the bowlers across the ground and completed his fifty off just 34 balls.
The Men in Blue were in a commanding position, but the quick wickets of Suryakumar (62) and Shreyas Iyer (5) saw the hosts needing ten runs off the final over. All-rounder Daryl Mitchell was handed over the ball by NZ skipper Tim Southee, but it was Rishabh Pant (17*) who man🐓aged to take India over the finisཧh line.
Earlier, Martin Guptill and Mark Chapman played crucial knocks of 70 and 63 respectively as New Zeala🌌nd posted 164/6 on a good batting surface.
- New Zealand: 164/6 (Martin Guptill 70, Mark Chapman 63; Ravichandran Ashwin 2-23)
- India: 166/5 (Suryakumar Yadav 62, Rohit Sharma 48; Trent Boult 2-31)
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Well done team in♔dia 🇮🇳 good win well played .. congratulations
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
What a finish 💥
Despite a commendable effort from New Zealand in the death, In🧜dia clinch a thriller in the final over to take a 1-0 𝐆lead in the three-match T20I series.
— ICC (@ICC)
Some brilliant b🎐atting on display as start the Rohit-Dravid Era with a win to go 1-0 in the series! 🇮🇳
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders)
Excellent start to🔥 the new era o🍷f Indian cricket. Congratulations team India on the victory.
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R)
A thrilling game of cricket saw 💜end up on the right side of the result 🤩
Surya registerℱed his highest T20I score, while Rohit played some glorious shots and Pant held his nerve under prไessure to finish things off 🔥
The new era gets off to a good start 💙
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals)
Congratulations ?
Job well done 🏏🔥— Ridhima Pathak (@PathakRidhima)
Tight finish, but good win for India after poor performance in T20WC. Kiwis paꦏid price for poor finishﷺ. With 8-10 runs more to defend may have been a different result. Credit though for keeping their nerve and taking match so deep. Dravid and Rohit will heave sigh of relief
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
A winning start to the series 🔥 pulled off a nail-bitinﷺg win in Jaipur 🙌
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)
4 – 0 – 23 – 2
A memorable spell i♉n his 50th 🍸T20I game! Well done, Ashwin. 💙👏
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan)
India vs New Zealand in T20Is:
In World Cups:
Played 3
India won 0
NZ won 3Outside World Cups:
Played 15
India won 9
NZ won 6— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath)
To neW beginnings 🥳💥
📸 🦁💛
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL)
