IND vs NZ: Top 5 performers from the T20I series

The three-match T20 international series between India and New Zealand is done and dusted and it’s the home side India who clinched the series by a margin of 2-1. After losing the opening game in Ranchi, the Men in Blue bounced back to keep their home domination alive by winning the next two in Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Notably, after thrashing the Kiwis 3-0 (3) in the ODIs, India grabbed the T20 trophy as well. A few players from either side delivered some match-winning performances in the series and they feature in this article.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 performers from the India-Newe Zealand T20I series:

5. Washington Sundar

India all-rounder Washington Sundar bowled economically at just 5.57 in two innings as he snared three scalps at an average of 13.00 and a strike rate of 14.0. The left-handed batter also amassed 60 runs at an average of 30.00 and a strike rate of 162.16 with the highest score of 50. He hammered the fastest fifty by an Indian batting at no. six in just 25 deliveries in the Ranchi T20I, surpassing Dinesh Karthik’s 26-ball half-century against South Africa in Rajkot in 2022.

4. Hardik Pandya

India skipper and all-rounder Hardik Pandya scored 66 runs in three innings at an average of 33.00 and a strike rate of 115.75, with the best score of 30. With the ball in hand, Hardik picked up five wickets at an average of 14.80 and a strike rate of 13.2 with an economy rate of just 6.72. He picked his career-best figures of 4/16 (4) in the decider in Ahmedabad, which included wickets of explosive batters Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips as the Indian captain also won the Player of the Series award for his all-round performance in the three matches.

3. Suryakumar Yadav

India’s new T20 sensation Suryakumar Yadav smashed the third-most runs after Gill and Mitchell in the series. The destructive right-handed batter mustered 97 runs in three outings at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 124.35 with the highest score of 47. Chasing just 100 on a rank turner in the Lucknow T20I, Suryakumar kept his cool and remained not out on 26 off 31 to guide his side to a win in the final over the match with just one ball to spare. India leveled the series courtesy of Suryakumar’s efforts as he also grabbed the Player of the Match award.

2. Daryl Mitchell

New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell finished the series as the second-highest run-scorer behind Gill. The right-handed powerful batter amassed 102 runs in three innings at an average of 51.00 and a strike rate of 150.00 with one half-century. He slammed an unbeaten 59 off just 30 with the help of three fours and five maximums in the series opener in Ranchi, which helped his side in sealing the contest by 21 runs. The New Zealander also won the Player of the Match award for his crucial fifty.

1. Shubman Gill

After scores of seven and 11 in the first two matches, right-handed batter Shubman Gill finally struck form in the T20I format as he hammered a scintillating century in the decider in Ahmedabad. Gill smashed 126* off just 63 with 12 fours and seven sixes as India posted a mammoth 234/4 on the board eventually dismantling the Kiwis by 168 runs. Gill won the Player of the Match award and ended the series as the highest run-getter with 144 runs at an average of 72.00 and a strike rate of 184.61.