On this day in 2020: India complete 5-0 whitewash of NZ in T20Is
India and New Zealand have been involved in some epic encounters in the last few years. While the Kiwis still have the upper hand over Team India in T20 World Cups and had also dominated the Men In Blue in the shortest format, Virat Kohli & Co. turned the tables on them by whitewashing them in the T20I series in their own backyard in early 2020.
The Indian team won all the five games two of which were high-voltage super overs but, the dead-rubber 5th T20I game was also memorable as the visitors staged a remarkable comeback to ensure that Black Caps did not register even a single win in the format on this very day in 2020.
When India whitewashed New Zealand in T20I series
Both teams had competed in the fifth and final T20I at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Stand-in captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first. India lost the wicket of opener Sanju Samson early but, his opening partner KL Rahul along with Rohit steadied the innings with an 88-run stand for the second wicket.
The visitors suffered a huge setback when the ‘Hitman’ injured his left calf after hitting a six. He was in deep discomfort and was retired hurt for a 41-ball 60 as he left the field. Sharma could take no further part in the contest and was also ruled out for the remainder of the bilateral series due to a hamstring injury. A vital 33 from Shreyas Iyer in the middle-order propelled India to a fighting total of 163/3 from their 20 overs.
In reply, early wickets jolted the Kiwi run chase after being reduced to 17/3 in the fourth over before wicketkeeper batter Tim Seifert and veteran Ross Taylor kept them in the hunt with a 99-run stand. The key highlight of the match was medium-pacer Shivam Dube conceding 34 runs in an over after which he was never given the ball in that game. This remains second-most expensive over in a T20I match to date.
Once Siefert was dismissed, the onus was on Taylor to take his team over the line but, the Indian bowlers pulled things back by picking up wickets at regular intervals and once Ross Taylor was dismissed on the very first delivery of the 18th over, New Zealand fell short and were restricted to 156/9.
India won the T20I series 5-0 by the virtue of this seven-run victory.
