IND vs NZ: T20I series – Top 5 performers from India’s whitewash

India dominated the proceedings against New Zealand as they clinched the three-match T20I series 3-0. After a rather dismaying outing in the T20 World Cup 2021, the Men in Blue seem to have got their mojo back. This marked a positive start to Rahul Dravid’s and Rohit Sharma’s stint as team India’s new head coach and T20I skipper respectively.

In this article, let’s have a look at the top 5 performers of the T20I series between India and New Zealand:

5) Tim Southee

In the absence of Kane Williamson, Southee led the side in the T20I series. The pacer picked up four wickets from two matches at a decent economy rate. The speedster clinched two wickets in an over in the 2nd T20I and tried to bring the team back in the game. He sent back the set batter Rohit Sharma and then Suryakumar Yadav who had just walked into the field. In the match, he secured three wickets by giving just 16 runs.

4) Axar Patel

The spinner was instrumental in providing the team with much-needed breakthroughs in the middle overs. In the final T20I, he ran through New Zealand’s batting order to restrict the team early on. Patel registered a stunning performance wherein he picked up three wickets and conceded just nine runs in the third T20I. In the series, the spinner scalped four wickets at a healthy economy rate to display his flair.

3) Harshal Patel

Undoubtedly it was a dream debut for the pacer as he put up a spirited show at display in both the matches he played. The Purple Cap winner, Harshal Patel replaced the injured Mohammad Siraj in the second T20I and made his lasting mark in his very first international game. He was awarded the player of the match for his outstanding spell wherein he clinched two wickets and conceded 25 runs. In the final T20I as well, he scalped two wickets to exude his class.

2) Martin Guptill

Guptill was exceptional for New Zealand in the T20I series. He smashed 152 runs at an average of 50.66 from three matches. In the first T20I, the batter scored 70 runs off 42 deliveries to provide the Kiwis with a flying start. In the next game, he played a quickfire knock of 31 runs and continued his good momentum in the final T20I as well hitting a splendid half-century. With his impressive consistency, he put the Indian bowlers under the pump.

1) Rohit Sharma

The batter’s heroics in the white-ball format are known to all and he made sure he continues his domination here. Sharma finished the series as the top run-getter for the side and was awarded the Man of the Series. He hit two consecutive half-centuries and chipped in 159 runs from the three matches. He also became the only second cricketer after Martin Guptill to hit 150 sixes in T20 international cricket during the T20I series.