India v New Zealand, 1st T20I - India Player Ratings

After a highly competitive ODI series, India and New Zealand arrived at Delhi for the first T20I of the 3-match series. Action moved to the iconic Feroze Shah Kotla for the highly anticipated game. The kind of performance that the Kiwis put on in the ODI series set things up perfectly for the shortest format. A high scoring game was on the cards for the two sides.

Coming to the match, India were asked to bat first after the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl first. Indian openers – Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan – added a marathon 158 runs for the opening wicket to set up the base for a high score. Skipper Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni hammered sixes at the fag end to propel the hosts to a total of 202/3 in their 20 overs.

In the run chase, the Kiwi openers were sent packing cheaply by Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. While most of the middle-order batsmen got starts, none could play the anchor role in the run chase. It was only a matter of time that the innings wrapped up to give the Indian side a clinical 53 run win in the match.

Here are the India Player Ratings for the match:

Shikhar Dhawan – 9/10

Coming in to the game, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan was under some sort of pressure to get amongst the runs. He had failed to score in the previous fixture. Also, his record in the shortest format of the game has not been the greatest. This match turned out to be a good one for the local boy. He scored a quick 80 off just 52 deliveries with 10 fours and 2 sixes.

Rohit Sharma – 9/10

While Shikhar Dhawan dominated the first half of the opening stand, Rohit Sharma took over the commanding role for the other half. He struggled to get along initially but soon got into his own groove. Rohit added 158 runs with Shikhar Dhawan – the highest opening partnership for India in the format. Rohit also scored 80 that came off 55 deliveries with 6 fours and 4 sixes.

Virat Kohli – 7.5/10

Indian skipper Virat Kohli did nothing wrong in the match. He arrived at the crease after Hardik Pandya was sent back packing cheaply. Kohli continued his good run with the bat. He clobbered 3 sixes en route his unbeaten 26 that came off 11 deliveries. With the captaincy hat, Kohli was spot on with his bowling changes.

Shreyas Iyer – 3/10

The Indian skipper stunned everyone when he picked up Shreyas Iyer in the playing eleven. Iyer, who has been a prolific player in the domestic circuit, made his debut in the match. His services with the bat were not needed in the game owing to the openers putting some exceptional show down. In the field, Iyer looked a little uncomfortable with a couple of fielding lapses.

MS Dhoni – 8/10

Wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni had a decent outing in the match. Dhoni arrived at the crease in the final over of the match. He clobbered a maximum over deep midwicket on the very first delivery that he faced. He remained unbeaten on 7 off 2 deliveries. With the gloves, he was spot on. After having dropped a catch early on, he covered up with a couple of catches and a stumping that saw Tom Latham head back to the pavilion.

Axar Patel – 8.5/10

Left arm spinner Axar Patel was picked up in the side ahead of the much fancied Kuldeep Yadav. Axar was very economical with the ball. He returned with figures of 2/20 in the four overs that he bowled. He managed to dismiss Tom Bruce and Colin de Grandhomme, the two proven hard hitters of the New Zealand camp.

Hardik Pandya – 7/10

Hardik Pandya has been the preferred all-rounder in team India. He was promoted to number 3 in the batting order. He largely disappointed as he was sent packing for a duck in the match. Later in the game, he took a stunner on the ropes to dismiss Martin Guptill. Also, he managed to dismiss the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson during his bowling spell.

Yuzvendra Chahal – 8/10

Leggie Yuzvendra Chahal has been very impressive in the shortest format of the game. Chahal is not afraid of tossing the ball up and that has fetched him wickets. He bowled in the powerplays and managed to dismiss Martin Guptill cheaply. He later had Tom Latham stumped. Chahal finished with figures of 2/26 in his quota of 4 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 6/10

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a decent time with the ball. He arrived in to the game riding on a tough time in the final ODI of the series. Kumar certainly was back to his usual best in the match. He bagged the wicket of Colin Munro – the batsman who had hammered him in the final ODI. Bhuvneshwar finished with figures of 1/23.

Ashish Nehra – 5/10

Veteran bowler Ashish Nehra was picked up in the Indian lineup as India decided to go in with three seamers. Nehra played his farewell international game at his home ground. He was unlucky to have gone wicketless in the match. He returned with figures of 0/29 in the four overs that he bowled in the match. What a career he has had though!

Jasprit Bumrah – 5/10

Bumrah had a tough time with the ball in the match. The ace Indian bowler was the star of the previous match. He was taken away for as much as 37 runs in this game. He got the solitary wicket of Tim Southee towards the fag end of the match. Fortunately for team India, Bumrah’s tough time in the match did not cost them much.