India vs New Zealand 2021: Best Combined XI of the T20I series

With respect to the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2022, the recently concluded series between India and New Zealand was a perfect platform for both sides to test their players. Irrespective of its current relevance, both teams seemed keen to give chances to their youngsters in order to see whether they can deliver at the biggest stage. The Men in Blue dominated the Kiwis and thus, won the series 3-0. Despite the loss, the Blackcaps did have a few positives as well. One of them being the return to form of some of their players. The home team, on the other hand, would undoutedly be the happier side. After a disastrous campaign in the recently-concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2021, Team India seem to have got their mojo back. However, which are those players who were at their best this time around? Which of them would make it to the best XI of this series? With the three-match affair coming to an end, we shall take a look at the best XI of the T20I series. 1)Rohit Sharma (C) Rohit Sharma. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) India’s newly appointed T20I skipper, Rohit Sharma was sensational in these three T20Is. It is safe to say that he was scoring runs for fun. There is a reason why he was awarded with the Player of the Series award. The opener scored the most number of runs in this series, 159 runs in the 3 games. The 34-year-old had a batting average and strike rate of 53.00 and 154.36 respectively. While he made full utiliation of the powerplay overs, his ability post significant scores consistently gave great headache to Kiwi bowlers. Notably, Rohit slammed two fifties in this series. Despite having a set plan against the aggressive opener, the Kiwis still struggled to get the better of him. Last but not the least, Rohit Sharma’s captaincy was superb as well. Hence, he will lead this elite team. 2)Martin Guptill Martin Guptill. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) Martin Guptill wasn’t at his best in the recently concluded ICC T20 WC 2021. He was severely criticized for his performance in the marquee event. However, he seems to have got his lost mojo back. The veteran opener, who is now the highest run-scorer in T20Is, is well and truly back with a bang! He was one of the few positives for the Kiwis in this series. Only Rohit Sharma scored more number of runs than him in this series. The opener scored 152 runs in the three T20Is. His batting average and strike rate were 50.66 and 163.44 respectively. This includes 2 fifties as well. 3) Suryakumar Yadav: Suryakumar Yadav. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) All the people who doubted Suryakumar Yadav, after his mediocre performances in the 14th edition of the IPL would definately have a change of mind. The batter once again proved why he is rated so highly among the cricket pundits. He looked in good nick this time around. The Mumbai Indians batter scored 63 runs in the three games. His batting average and strike rate were 21.00 and 136.95 respectively. This includes a fifty in the first T20I as well. Despite failing in the last two games, the Mumbai batter looked in sublime touch in the first game. He was able to play the spinners with ease. Moreover he showed a lot of maturity despite playing just 9 T20Is so far. 4) Mark Chapman Mark Chapman. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) Despite warming the bench throughout the ICC T20 WC 2021, Chapman was superb in this series. As the Kiwis were without the services of their regular skipper and star batter Kane Williamson, the batting all-rounder made full use of his opportunities. He looked really confident whenever he walked in to bat. Chapman was the third-highest run getter of the series. He scored 84 runs in the three T20Is. His batting average and strike rate were 28.00 and 121.73 respectively. This included an amazing 63 in the first T20I. He got to a start in the second T20I as well. Thus, the all-rounder is expected to get a longer run in the XI after his performance in this series. 5) Rishabh Pant (WK) Rishabh Pant’s one-handed six. (Photo Source: Disney+Hotstar VIP) Rishabh Pant is considered to be the future of Indian cricket. The talented superstar did no damage to his reputation in this series. He performed his role as a finisher to perfection. When India were in a spot of bother towards the end of the first T20I, he ensured his team go over the line as he batted till the end. He kept his calm showed great composure. In the second T20I, he again finished the game in style. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 33 runs in the 3 T20Is. He was dismissed just once, in the third T20I. Thus, India’s designated finisher showed signs of a superb temperament. 6) Venkatesh Iyer: Venkatesh Iyer. (Photo Source: BCCI) Venkatesh Iyer has been exceptional in the last few months. After showcasing his abilities in IPL 2021, he was named in the Indian squad. He subsequently went on to make his international debut in this series. While the explosive all-rounder didn’t really have any match-winning performances in this series, he did look promising, for starters at least. He was asked to bat in the lower middle-order, this was because the management wanted a replacement for Hardik Pandya. In the first T20I, he came to bat in the final over and scored a crucial boundary, but then got dismissed in the very next delivery. After coming to bat at 3 in the next game, he remained unbeaten. He then scored a brisk 20 off 15 balls in the third and final game, he was then given the ball in the second innings of the third T20I and even managed to pick a wicket. 7) Mitchell Santner: Mitchell Santner and Tim Seifert. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) Mitchell Santner is one of the most underrated T20I cricketers going around. He often goes under the radar. Nevertheless, he was at his absolute best in this three-match T20I series. The bowling all-rounder picked 4 wickets in the series. His bowling average and strike rate were 19.75 and 18.0 respectively. His economy rate was on the lower side as well (6.58). He even lead the New Zealand side in the third and final T20I. As a matter of fact, his best performance was in this game itself, where he picked three wickets and gave just the 27 runs in his full quota of 4 overs. Last but not the least, he scored 14 runs in this series too. 8) Axar Patel: Axar Patel. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) Axar Patel hasn’t got too many opportunities for India of late. However, whenever he has been given a game, he has always done well. His performance in this series was a timely reminder of his valuable skills in the shortest format of the game. The all-rounder picked 4 wickets in this series. His bowling average and strike rate were 16.50 and 16.6 respectively. He had a micerly economy rate of just 6.00. The fact that he was able to bowl so well in the powerplay overs was an icing over the cake. He was picking wickets at regular intervals as well. However, the highlight of his performance has to be his tight line and lengths which didn’t allow the Kiwi batters to play the big shots against him. 9) Harshal Patel Harshal Patel. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Harshal Patel has been in the form of his life lately. After an unreal IPL 2021 which saw him pick 32 wickets, he was selected in the Indian squad for this series. He then made his debut in the second T20I and made an impact straightaway. He went on to win the Player-of-the-Match award in his first game for India. He backed it up with another good performance in the third and final T20I. The bowling all-rounder picked 4 wickets in the two games in which he played. His bowling average and strike rate were 12.75 and 10.5 respectively. Despite bowling most of his overs at the death, his economy rate in this series was just 7.28. That wasn’t just it as in the third T20I, He scored 18 from 11 balls, and thus, played an amazing cameo. 10) Ravichandran Ashwin: Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images) Contrary to what his critics felt, Ravichandran Ashwin showed one and all that he is a force to reckon in the shortest format of the game as well. The veteran off-spinner looked like a man on a mission in this series. So much so that he was one of the pick of the bowlers in both the games he played. The 35-year-old picked 3 wickets in this series. His bowling average and strike rate were 14.00 and 16.0 respectively. His economy rate was the best for any spinner in this series (5.25). The fact that hard hitters like Phillips and Seifert struggled to play him speaks volumes of his abilities. Any captain would love to have an offie like him, who can choke the flow of runs in the middle overs. Thus, the veteran is going to play a critical role in India’s plans for the upcoming T20I WC down under in 2022. 11) Tim Southee: Tim Southee. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images) Tim Southee was one of the best performers of this series. Despite the critics citing his shortcomings in T20Is, the veteran left no stone unturned in proving them wrong. He looked one of the most confident bowlers in the first two T20Is. He backed himself to come good, and was absolutely superb whenever he came to bowl. The Kiwi skipper for the first two T20Is picked 4 wickets in the 2 games. His bowling average and strike rate were 14.00 and 12.0 respectively. Not to forget his sensational economy rate of just 7.00, which came despite bowling all the tough overs. The pacer made a game out of absolutely nothing when India looked all set to chase their total with a few overs in the first T20I. Moreover, his captaincy skills were impressive to say the least.

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