India v New Zealand T20I series 2017: Combined XI

India’s brimming hat of accomplishments was adorned with a brand new feather as they clinched the T20 Series against the Kiwis by a 2-1 margin in the final game of the series at the Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. Although New Zealand gave the Men in Blue a run for their money, the latter held their nerves in a rain-curtailed series decider and emerged victorious. Prior to this, India had also won the 3-match ODI series against the visitors by the same margin.

The first T20I witnessed a clinical performance on India’s front as they piled 202 runs on the scoreboard that had the visitors stop short at a mere total of 149 runs. The second game, however, saw the tables turn as New Zealand defeated Virat Kohli‘s boys by a hefty margin of 40 runs. Consequently, the series was in delicate balance coming into the third and final T20 at the rain-affected Greenfield Stadium. Incessant downpour resulted in the match being reduced to an 8-over per side encounter, where batting first, India was able to muster only 67 runs.

In what turned out to be a nail-biting game of cricket, the Black Caps were restricted to 61-6 by some quality bowling from the Indian side, leading to India lifting the winner’s trophy.

Here’s our compilation of the Best XI from the T20I Series:

Rohit Sharma

Having played exquisitely in the ODI Series against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma showcased his batting prowess in the T20s as well. In the 3 games that he was a part of, the swashbuckling right-handed opener scored 93 runs for India at a strike rate of 132.86. The noteworthy innings that Sharma played came in the first T20, where he smashed 80 runs off just 55 balls. Although he failed to play to the fullest of his potential in the other two games of the series, his fielding heroics were exceptional as he took a blinder of a catch to dismiss the dangerous Colin Munro in the series decider.

Colin Munro

Colin Munro gave his team a fighting chance in the series as he almost single-handedly won the second T20 for New Zealand. It was his dazzling innings of 109 runs off 58 balls in the match that saw his side home and also earned him the Man of the Match. Munro clocked 123 runs in the three innings that he played, at an average of 61.50- the highest batting average of the T20 series. The 30-year old left-hander carried out his role as a reliable opener to utmost perfection as he appeared lethal for as long as he was on the crease. His T20 campaign against India comprised 7 boundaries and 8 sixers.

Virat Kohli (C)

There aren’t too many Best XI teams where the ‘Run Machine’ fails to feature. This time around wasn’t much of an exception as the Indian skipper was at his flamboyant best throughout the series. Virat Kohli led his team from the front as an outstanding batsman and more importantly, as an able captain. He ranked second on the list of Most Runs in the T20 series with 104 runs in 3 matches at an average of 52.0, only behind Munro.

His onslaught included an unbeaten knock of 26 runs in the first T20, followed by 65 (42) and 13 (6) in the other two games respectively. Kohli also sported the highest strike rate (176.27) of the T20 series and his performance was augmented by some fabulous fielding efforts on his part.

Kane Williamson

The Kiwi skipper, Kane Williamson was the epitome of a “Gentleman” in cricketing terminology right through the series, gracious even in his team’s defeat. The 27-year old marshalled his troops well and although he would have liked to contribute more to his team’s cause, Williamson scored 48 runs in the three T20 games. His efforts with the bat yielded 28 (24), 12 (9) and 8 (10) respectively- impressive starts that he was unable to convert into more substantial figures. His outings on the field saw him hit 3 boundaries and a lone 6.

Hardik Pandya

Delivering the final over of the final match of the series was a litmus test for young Hardik Pandya- a test he passed with flying colours. The all-rounding abilities of the wiry lad has become common knowledge in the cricketing world and this series was no different. Pandya especially shone with the ball as he scalped 1 wicket in the 3 overs that he bowled in the three matches.

Entrusted with the responsibility of defending 19 runs in the ultimate over of the third T20, he came through splendidly as he unleashed his nerves of steel and conceded only 12 runs to the opposition, in spite of having suffered an injury on his non-bowling arm in the second ball of the same over.

MS Dhoni (wk)

The ever-composed MS Dhoni was an indomitable pillar in the Indian line-up in the series, as always. Throughout the series, he was seen providing Kohli with invaluable advice that his experienced cricketing brain has assimilated over the years. Having brought up 56 runs in the three matches at a strike rate of 143.59, he would’ve hoped to contribute more to his team’s endeavours. However, Dhoni made up for his lean run-patch by effecting 2 catches, a stumping and a run-out assisted by Hardik Pandya in the series.

Colin de Grandhomme

Colin de Grandhomme’s experience of playing on Indian pitches, owing to his affiliation with the Kolkata Knight Riders team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), aided his performance in the series. The 31-year old batting all-rounder chipped in with 17 runs in the two innings that he played for his team. He also bowled at decent economy rates of 11.3 and 10.0 in the first T20 at Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi and the second T20 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot respectively.

Ish Sodhi

Famed for countering spin well, the Indian batsmen found themselves flummoxed by Ish Sodhi all the same and there lies the man’s credit. Having been brought in exclusively for the T20 series, he lived up to his reputation. Sodhi, armed with his leg-break bowling, picked up 5 wickets in the three games at an average of 14.6. He also featured at the third spot of the Best Economy Rates in the series at 7.30.

While he picked up the crucial wickets of Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya in the first T20, he went on to dismiss Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in the third game. He conceded merely 25 runs and 23 runs in the two matches, respectively.

Trent Boult

Topping the bowling charts for the series was Kiwi pacer, Trent Boult. After having bowled in tandem with Tim Southee in the ODIs to construct a lethal bowling pair, Boult weaved his magic in the T20s as well. Boult scalped 6 wickets in 10 overs throughout the 3-match series, while maintaining an average of 16.00. His best performance of the series saw him pick up 4 wickets, namely those of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni and Axar Patel in the second T20 for only 34 runs at an economy rate of 8.5.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Indian spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal had found his footing in Indian Cricket after his appearances for the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise in the IPL. Hence, his inclusion in the side as a specialist bowler for the series didn’t come as much of a surprise.

Chahal bowled 10 overs in the three matches, in the course of which he claimed 3 wickets at an average of 23.33. Further, he sported a decent economy of 7.00. Chahal’s notable performance of the series came through on the day of the first T20, when he dismissed opener Martin Guptill and wicket-keeper Tom Latham.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is revered for his spot-on yorkers for a reason. The 23-year old pacer wielded his skills with the ball as he maintained the best economy amongst the bowlers of both the sides in the series. Bumrah picked up 3 wickets in the 10 overs that he bowled in the series, at a commendable economy rate of 6.90.

His prowess in the arena of bowling came to the fore in Tuesday’s nail-biter of an encounter, where not only did he restrict the run-flow but also picked up 2 wickets. The second over of the New Zealand innings saw a stellar bowling performance from the youngster as he picked up Colin Munro‘s wicket, while conceding only 3 runs, thus burdening the Kiwi batting line-up with insurmountable pressure.