190/7 (20.0)
CRR : 9.50
238/7 (20.0)
CRR : 11.90
India won by 48 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Player
0/384(35)
Most T20I Wins Against New Zealand:
24 - Pakistan
17 - England
15* - Australia, India
24 - Pakistan
17 - England
15* - Australia, India
10:59 PM IST, Local Time: Harsha Bhogle is ready with the post-match presentation...
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand Captain): "[On whether New Zealand were looking for best combination] Yeah, I think you are always looking for that but obviously you want to win. It was a good hit out for us, came up against a good team at their home. It was a good game for us but yeah, India played well.
[What are the positives] GP's knock, Chapman's knock after losing early wickets. I think on good surfaces, if you give yourself some time, you can catch up. But I think we were put under pressure with the ball by India. There's no real try to squeeze a few dot balls, you have to be on your makr from ball 1 to 120.
[On Daryl Mitchell] No, that's just how it turned out. Indian boys put our spinners under pressure. The cutters were holding a little, Kristian Clarke on debut bowled those big spinners which looked hard to hit. Last over, for anyone, is a bit hard.
[On Jacob Duffy] He's shown his class over the last few years. When he swings it up top, it is nice. Going forward, yeah, only way to slow these guys down is taking wickets.
[On his batting number] I think with our make-up, at the moment, I am 7. We have few guys coming in from franchise stuff. Neesham and Seifert. So we will see how it goes.
[What are the positives] GP's knock, Chapman's knock after losing early wickets. I think on good surfaces, if you give yourself some time, you can catch up. But I think we were put under pressure with the ball by India. There's no real try to squeeze a few dot balls, you have to be on your makr from ball 1 to 120.
[On Daryl Mitchell] No, that's just how it turned out. Indian boys put our spinners under pressure. The cutters were holding a little, Kristian Clarke on debut bowled those big spinners which looked hard to hit. Last over, for anyone, is a bit hard.
[On Jacob Duffy] He's shown his class over the last few years. When he swings it up top, it is nice. Going forward, yeah, only way to slow these guys down is taking wickets.
[On his batting number] I think with our make-up, at the moment, I am 7. We have few guys coming in from franchise stuff. Neesham and Seifert. So we will see how it goes.
Suryakumar Yadav (India Captain): "[advantages today] Always good when we put runs on the board and defend when the dew is around. All the batters played their role really well and that was a big plus point.
[the combination] It's been working well with the team and if it's working then let it be.
[on batting at number 4] It was a perfect time for me to bat under pressure situation. I said I was batting well in the nets, it was just a matter of time and staying on the crease. I have batted similarly during the net sessions, played some practice matches as well so I was feeling good.
[the fielding] With some dew and lights here and there, I am supporting my fielders. Very happy with the effort from the boys.
[on Abhishek Sharma's form] The way he prepares and carries himself in the hotel and team bus, all small things reflect on the ground and he reflects it on the ground with his performances."
[the combination] It's been working well with the team and if it's working then let it be.
[on batting at number 4] It was a perfect time for me to bat under pressure situation. I said I was batting well in the nets, it was just a matter of time and staying on the crease. I have batted similarly during the net sessions, played some practice matches as well so I was feeling good.
[the fielding] With some dew and lights here and there, I am supporting my fielders. Very happy with the effort from the boys.
[on Abhishek Sharma's form] The way he prepares and carries himself in the hotel and team bus, all small things reflect on the ground and he reflects it on the ground with his performances."
Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma (POTM): [How he carries himself] I am not sure what he (Suryakumar Yadav) was talking about. It is just that the team has been following the plan we had from day 1 and we are just following it.
[Six-hitting mindset] I think one thing that I have figured that if you want to hit all the balls, or you want to play at the strike-rate of 200 or something, you have to practice hard and carry that intent. If you see, all these teams have a plan for me. It is not just fielding, it is about bowling and pitching as well. It is up to me, to prepare before the game. I had 2-3 weeks before this game. I knew I will be challenged by these bowlers, and I will back my instinct and I have been practising about that as well.
[On his batting approach] I don't feel it is high-risk. I would not say it is my comfort zone. But, it is like I want team to be first. They want to use the first six overs. That's what I practice before the game. If you see, all the main bowlers, from all the teams, they bowl first three overs, if we score in those, we have the upper hand.
[On if he does range-hitting] No, I am not a strong guy so I don't do range-hitting. It is just, I feel I am more of a timing batter. I just want to get used to the conditions. If you see, we are playing all over India, I have to adapt to the conditions. I plan a day before or when I get a net session. These bowlers have a plan, so I have to back it as well.
[On how he assesses the conditions] If you watch videos, you get an idea where the bowlers will bowl to you and where you can play your shots. But it is always about me backing my shots. I don't have a lot of shots, I just have few shots and I will practice a lot and execute it.
[On fielding in slips] Of course, Shubman was the first fielder for that. I enjoy fielding in slips, I have been working hard with Dilip sir as well."
[Six-hitting mindset] I think one thing that I have figured that if you want to hit all the balls, or you want to play at the strike-rate of 200 or something, you have to practice hard and carry that intent. If you see, all these teams have a plan for me. It is not just fielding, it is about bowling and pitching as well. It is up to me, to prepare before the game. I had 2-3 weeks before this game. I knew I will be challenged by these bowlers, and I will back my instinct and I have been practising about that as well.
[On his batting approach] I don't feel it is high-risk. I would not say it is my comfort zone. But, it is like I want team to be first. They want to use the first six overs. That's what I practice before the game. If you see, all the main bowlers, from all the teams, they bowl first three overs, if we score in those, we have the upper hand.
[On if he does range-hitting] No, I am not a strong guy so I don't do range-hitting. It is just, I feel I am more of a timing batter. I just want to get used to the conditions. If you see, we are playing all over India, I have to adapt to the conditions. I plan a day before or when I get a net session. These bowlers have a plan, so I have to back it as well.
[On how he assesses the conditions] If you watch videos, you get an idea where the bowlers will bowl to you and where you can play your shots. But it is always about me backing my shots. I don't have a lot of shots, I just have few shots and I will practice a lot and execute it.
[On fielding in slips] Of course, Shubman was the first fielder for that. I enjoy fielding in slips, I have been working hard with Dilip sir as well."
Most Player of the Match Awards for India in T20I:
16 - Virat Kohli, Suryakumar
14 - Rohit Sharma
8 - Axar Patel
7 - Yuvraj Singh
6 - Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya
5 - Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma*
16 - Virat Kohli, Suryakumar
14 - Rohit Sharma
8 - Axar Patel
7 - Yuvraj Singh
6 - Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya
5 - Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma*
An entertaining high scoring encounter in Nagpur to kick start the 5-match series - a precursor to the T20 World Cup which follows. India start off well with a thumping 48-run win despite losing the toss and batting first. Abhishek Sharma the hero with the bat continuing his golden batting form, taking India to a match winning total. The bowlers backing them up with the defence, the series now moves to Raipur for the 2nd game of the series on Friday!
That's it from our coverage of the opening T20I of the series. Ninaad Dixit here signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ajay Pal Singh, scorer Paras Yadav and statistician Aman. Stay tuned for more action from around the world.
That's it from our coverage of the opening T20I of the series. Ninaad Dixit here signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ajay Pal Singh, scorer Paras Yadav and statistician Aman. Stay tuned for more action from around the world.