'No game is over till it's over' - Ravi Shastri after India defeat New Zealand in a thrilling Super Over

‘New Zealand, run-chases, nerve-jangler Super Over, and Heartbreak’ – This loop was played yet again as Team India inflicted a stunning late-night robbery at Seddon Park to snatch victory from the jaws of what looked like a certain defeat. And, by doing that, the Men in Blue not only won the game but also took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

That India did all of this despite being sloppy in the field and with their best bowler having a rare off-day. Kane Williamson put on an absolute masterclass on what was a tough wicket to bat on. The New Zealand skipper was particularly severe on Jasprit Bumrah and by the time he was eventually dismissed, the Kiwis just needed two runs off the remaining four deliveries.

When no one believed it could be done, Shami didn’t. He bowled back-to-back short of a length deliveries outside the off-stump before nailing a brute of a yorker to dismiss Ross Taylor. 

It was a classic example of it ain’t over until its over, and Indian coach Ravi Shastri summed it up beautifully when he took to Twitter and wrote “Classic example of no game is over till it’s over. Super game #SuperOver #NZvIND 🇮🇳🙏 “

India clinched their maiden T20I series in New Zealand

Coming back to the Super-Over, New Zealand batted first and Kane Williamson, just as he had done in the actual match, laid into Jasprit Bumrah as he and Martin Guptill racked up 17 runs off six balls.

Rohit Sharma survived a run-out on the very first delivery of India’s run-chase when Tim Siefert failed to collect the ball. And, the swashbuckling Indian batsmen ensured that he made the Kiwis pay for it as he shellacked Tim Southee for back-to-back sixes to seal the deal for India.

And, by the virtue of this win, Virat Kohli has now become the first Indian captain to win a Twenty20 International series on New Zealand soil. The Men in Blue had lost each of their previous T20I series in New Zealand. While the MS Dhoni-led unit lost 0-2 in 2009, Rohit Sharma’s side lost by 1-2 last year. Kohli, in contrast, is yet to lose a game as captain on New Zealand soil.