Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
New Zealand arrived in Delhi as the no.1 ranked T20I team in world cricket. A few hours later, they leave asking themselves “what on earth just happened?”
India shrugged off the fact that they were playing the best team in the world according to the rankings, and delivered an absolute thrashing. Like a boxer who has been knocked to the ground, New Zealand have to find someway to pick themselves up. This probably has to start with their fielding, which was awful. Three dropped catches against India in India is just not on.
Credit to India, they were irresistable and sent off Ashish Nehra as a winner in his final game. Here are some great stats and facts from the 1st T20I:
First win over New Zealand
Had you watched this game not knowing the previous head-to-head record between these two sides, you would have been forgiven for thinking that India had beaten New Zealand many times before in T20I cricket.
Surprisingly, India finally registered a win in T20I cricket, after five losses previously.
Records galore for Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan
Nohit Sharma? I don’t think so. Shikhar theONE? Yes.
Rohit and Shikhar were brilliant on their way to helping India post a massive total.
160 vs 149
If it wasn’t bad enough already for New Zealand, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan actually outscored the entire New Zealand team 160 to 149.
What a dominant way to deal with the world’s number one team.
Struggle of New Zealand’s “big four”
Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham were supposed to be India’s biggest threats.
Instead, the four only managed a total of 78 runs at a strike rate of just 102.63.
When you need 10 an over from the outset, this just isn’t enough from your main players.
Trent Boult’s tough day
Since his heroics in the 1st ODI, Trent Boult has found things a little difficult.
In this game, Trent Boult conceded his highest total in a single T20I (49), after his most expensive outing in the 3rd ODI (81).
80 vs 60
Shikhar Dhawan’s score in this game vs the combined score of his last seven T20I innings.
Unbelievable stuff. As they say, form is temporary, class is permanent.
A first for everything…
This match was the first time New Zealand didn’t take a wicket in the first 10 overs when bowling first. A tough night out.
Hardik Pandya…
A good day for India, but another tough day for Hardik Pandya, making a duck and conceding 11 of his only over, despite taking a wicket.
In 22 T20Is, Hardik Pandya averages just 10.41 with the bat, and has an economy rate of 8.03 runs per over with the ball. These are not figures reflective of his talent.
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So then, a comfortable victory for India. New Zealand really have to prove to everyone that they deserve their ranking, and face a tough test again in the 2nd T20I on Saturday in Rajkot.
