Captain Rohit Sharma and spinner Axar Patel starred in Kolkata Sunday as the hosts routed World Cup runners-up New Zealand by 73 runs to make a clean-sweep of the T20 series.
Spinner Patel triggered the New Zealand batting collapse in the third over with two wickets to push the steep 185 to win target beyond their reach.
Captain Rohit Sharma and spinner Axar Patel starred in Kolkata Sunday as the hosts routed World Cup runners-up New Zealand by 73 runs to make a clean-sweep of the T20 series.
Spinner Patel triggered the New Zealand batting collapse in the third over with two wickets to push the steep 185 to win target beyond their reach.
Seamer Harshal Patel, who made it to the national team after a breakthrough IPL (Indian Premier League) season, impressed with a 2-26 spell.
Earlier Patel also came to India’s rescue with a late order cameo scoring 18 off 11 along with Chahar who smashed 21 off 8.
Sharma top-scored for India, smashing 56 off 31 as the hosts posted 184-7.
Rookie all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, also an IPL breakout star, impressed with 1-12 in his first outing as a bowler for team India.
The stand-in skipper for New Zealand Mitchell Santner was his team’s most impressive bowler with a 3-27 spell.
Sharma had announced two changes for the hosts with Ravichandran Ashwin and KL Rahul making way for Ishan Kishan and Yuzvendra Chahal.
