IND Vs NZ: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma Fifties Seal T20 Series For India After Harshal Patel's 2/25 On Debut - Highlights

What a start for Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid! If this was Rohit's first T20I series win as full-time captain, it was the first for Rahul as an India coach. India have always been spectacular in the bilateral series and today was no different. Wonder where this performance goes during the ICC tournaments.

Just like the previous match, Rohit Sharma sent the opposition to bat. New Zealand started brilliantly with Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell each scoring 31 each at the top of the order. With 64 runs in the powerplay, it looked like New Zealand are on its way for a bigger total but Rohit Sharma's decision to introduce spin from both ends did the trick for India. Debutant Harshal Patel also did wonders with his 2/25 in his four overs to bag the MoM award. In reply, the Indians never looked in discomfort as KL Rahul led the chase aggressively. At the other end, Rohit played a second fiddle before upping the ante after 10 overs. However, Tim Southee pulled things back for New Zealand with three wickets including two in an over, but it was Venkatesh Iyer and Rishabh Pant, who kept their cool to romp India home. The final T20I is at Eden Gardens on Sunday.         

(SCORECARD | STREAMING | STATISTICS | REPORT)

23:18 PM IST: Man of the Match for Harshal Patel on debut 

This game will sink in and it's been a great game for us. I couldn't have asked for a better India debut. The progress has been gradual and slow and when you are in it you just get engrossed. 

23:17 PM IST: Captains speak 

Tim Southee (NZ): All credit goes to India. They played better cricket on the day and didn't give us a chance with both bat and the ball. We will now go to a new venue, a quick turnaround, and we'll assess when we get to Kolkata.

Rohit Sharma (IND): It was all about one wicket after a strong start by New Zealand. We have an amazing benchstrength and the boys showed great application and temperament. 

22: 50 PM IST: India win

And Rishabh Pant finishes in style with two back-to-back sixes off Jimmy Neesham. India win the match by seven wickets, win series 2-0 with the final match at Eden Gardens on Sunday. 

22: 48PM IST: Easy for India

Rishabh Pant is an experienced campaigner while Venkatesh Iyer is just playing his second game for India. Iyer has looked so far in this innings with two fours in his kitty. India 143/3 (17)    

22:42 PM IST: Double strike 

Tim Southee is among the wickets once again. After dismissing KL Rahul, the Kiwis skipper sends back Rohit Sharma for 36-ball 55 and Suryakumar Yadav in the same over to bring New Zealand back in the game. A sudden silence in Ranchi. India 137/3 (16). Two new batsmen Venkatesh Iyer and Rishabh Pant in the crease now.    

22:35 PM IST: Hitman hits 50

Rohit, Rohit! That's the name in everyone's mouth right now in Ranchi. The skipper has decided to deal in sixes today and just hit his fifth of the night to bring up his fifty. Brilliant stuff. India need 20 from 30 balls.  

22:32 PM IST: Southee strikes

First breakthrough for New Zealand. Tim Southee dismisses KL Rahul, caught by Glenn Phillips for 49-ball 65. Venkatesh Iyer joins Rohit Sharma in the middle. India 122/1 (14). Need 32 runs from 36 balls

22:25 PM IST: Stat

This 100-run stand is fifth between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in T20Is in 27 innings. Pakistan's Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan also have five T20I century partnerships. Good to see India and Pakistan at the top. 

22:30 PM IST: 100 strong India 

There is no stopping this Indian pair. Trent Boult bowls a low full toss which Rohit slices to the boundary before Rahul adds another to his tally.  100 up for India in the 12th over. India 105/0 (12)

22:17 PM IST: 50 for KL 

Fifty for KL Rahul with a maximum from Adam Milne. What an innings has this been for the Indian opener.  It was his 16th in T20Is and fourth in the last five games. Surely, Rahul is in the form of his life. India 92/0 (11) 

22:05 PM IST:  Halfway stage

Rohit Sharma decides to open his arms. The India captain has kept quiet for the most part of the Indian innings so far but decides to open up with two huge sixes off Mitchell Santner in the 10 overs. KL Rahul (45*), Rohit Sharma (30*). India 79/0 (10) 

22:00 PM IST: India Need 91 runs 

The spinners have got purchase from this wicket tonight and India need to play eight overs from Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner carefully. India 63/0 (9) 

21:53 PM IST: 50 up for India

50 up for India in the eighth over. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul become the first Indian pair to notch up five consecutive 50-run partnerships in T20Is. Three in the T20 World Cup 2021 and two in this series. India 57/0 (8)

21:44 PM IST: Powerplay

Whack! What a shot from KL Rahul. Trent Boult bowls short of length, Rahul goes back foot, slaps it over cover for a six. India 45/0 (6). KL Rahul (32*), Rohit Sharma (10*). At this stage, New Zealand were way ahead at 64/1.     

21:34 PM IST: Rohit-Rahul leads India

What an over for India. First a four from KL Rahul off Adam Milne before skipper Rohit Sharma steps up to dispatch his Mumbai Indians teammate nicely over deep square leg for a six. India 32/0 (4). KL Rahul (22*), Rohit Sharma (8*). 

21:22 PM IST: Perfect start 

Perfect start from KL Rahul and India. The opener adds two more boundaries in the second over from Trent Boult to set the intent clear. India 16/0 (2)

21:18 PM IST: 8 to start the chase

First-ball four from KL Rahul to start the Indian innings. The right-hander puts his front foot forward for a drive but edges it and the ball flies wide of second slip to the fence. Rahul (7*), Rohit Sharma (0*). India 8/0 (1)

21:01 PM IST: Innings break 

Seven runs from the 20th over from Deepak Chahar stop New Zealand at 153/6. After a whirlwind 64 from the first six overs by New Zealand, Indian bowlers have put on a stunning performance to give away 89 in the final 14. Debutant Harshal Patel has been the pick of Indian bowlers with his 2/25. Ravi Ashwin too was impressive with 1/19 from his four. For New Zealand, Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell ( 31 runs each) and Glenn Phillips (34) shone with the bat.

20:48 PM IST: Bhuvi gets one

Finally, something good for Bhuvneswar Kumar to finish his spell. Bowling over the wicket, Bhuvi uses the angle well for Neesham to wield his bat wide and edge it to Rishabh Pant for a simple catch. Neesham goes for 3. New Zealand 140/6 (18). Bhuvi finishes with 4-0-39-1.   

20:36 PM IST: Harshal bags second 

Just when it looked Glenn Phillips is doing a Martin Guptill from the first match, debutant Harshal Patel does the job for India. Once again his slower ball doing the trick. Phillips pulls only to find Shreyas Iyer on the fence for 21-ball 34. New Zealand 137/5 (16.3)

20:27 PM IST: Ashwin gets his first 

Ravi Ashwin gets his first wicket in the match. Tim Seifert tries a reverse sweep, connects it well but only to find Bhuvneswar Kumar at short third man. Siefert goes for unlucky 13. Jimmy Neesham joins Glenn Phillips in the middle. Brilliant comeback by Ashwin as he concedes just three in his final over. New Zealand 128/4 (16). Ashwin finishes with 4-0-19-1.  

20:24 PM IST: Chahar, Bhuvi struggle

Deepak Chahar's tendency to leak runs in the ongoing series continues. Despite taking the wicket of dangerous Martin Guptill, the pacer conceded another 12 in his third which includes a monstrous six from Glenn Phillips.  His figures read 3-0-36-1 so far. The story isn't different either for Bhuvneshwar Kumar as he has given away 37 runs in his three overs. New Zeland 125/3 (25)   

20:15 PM IST: 100 up for NZ

100 up for New Zealand in the 13th over. Glenn Phillips (10*) and Tim Seifert (6*), New Zealand 102/3 (13)

21:07 PM IST: Harshal joins party 

Maiden international wicket for Harshal Patel. Harshal rolls his finger, Daryl Mitchell hits straight down the ground for Suryakumar Yadav to take the catch. Mitchell goes for 31. Venkatesh Iyer will be relieved man, as he dropped Phillips in the previous over off Axar Patel. New Zealand 90/3 (11.2)

19:58 PM IST: India pull things back 

Rohit Sharma's decision to introduce spin from both ends has worked for India. The move not only lowered the run flow but also a wicket.  From 64 runs in the powerplay, New Zealand could manage just 20 runs in the next four.     

19:48 PM IST: Axar strikes

Wicket number two for India. Just after hitting Axar Patel for a four, Mark Chapman hits straight to the hands of KL Rahul for 21. New Zealand 79/2 (8.5). 

19:44 PM IST: India pull things back

India seem to have pulled things back. After a brisk start, Indian bowlers have conceded just 17 runs in the last three overs. Must-improved bowling from Ravi Ashwin as he gives away just four runs in his second. New Zealand 73/1 (8) 

19:39 PM IST: Perfect debut

What a start for debutant Harshal Patel at the international circuit. The IPL 2021 Purple Cap winner concedes just five runs in his first over. New Zealand 69/1 (7)  

19:33 PM IST: Powerplay

Despite Martin Guptill's wicket, New Zealand have made most use of the powerplay. Ravi Ashwin has been brought into the attack in the sixth over and the spinner concedes eight runs in his first. Mark Chapman (5*) and Daryl Mitchell (19*) are currently in the crease. New Zealand 64/1 (6) 

19:28 PM IST: Chahar strikes

Out! Deepak Chahar gives India a much-needed breakthrough. Chahar bowls short, asking the batsman to hurry up, Guptill goes for the pull and ends in giving a simple catch to Rishabh Pant behind the wicket. Guptill departs for 31. New Zealand 48/1 (4.2)

19:23 PM IST: Smacked

Out of the ground! Martin Guptill dances down the ground to smack Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a maximum that went 84m. The right-hander is hit by a helmet by a nasty bouncer in the next before Daryl Mitchell scores another boundary to cap a successful over. New Zealand 42/0 (4)  

19:19 PM IST: Good start by New Zealand

Solid start by the New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell. After a huge first over, Mitchell and Guptill take 15 runs in the next two to lay a platform. New Zealand 29/0 (3). Deepak Chahar was once again costly in his first over giving away 10 runs.  

19:12 PM IST: Stat

The 14 runs given by Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the highest by an Indian bowler in the first six balls in a home T20 international. 

19:06 PM IST: Guptill sets the tone

Intentions clear! Martin Guptill, who made a 42-ball 70 in the first T20 hits three consecutive boundaries against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the first over. New Zealand 14/0 (1).     

18:58 PM IST: Update 

News from the BCCI coming in is that pacer Mohammad Siraj was forced to miss the second T20 against New Zealand after injuring his left hand while fielding in the series-opener. He was hit by Martin Guptill shot off his own bowling which needed immediate medical attention. 

"Siraj got a web split on his left hand while fielding on his own bowling in the 1st T20I in Jaipur. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring his progress," said BCCI in a statement. Siraj had conceded 39 runs in four overs and taken a wicket in the first game that India won by five wickets. 

18:52 PM IST: Stat

Harshal Patel becomes India's sixth oldest T20 international debutant at 30 years and 361 days. The others on the list are current India coach Rahul Dravid (38y 232d), Sachin Tendulkar (33y 221d), Sreenath Aravind (31y 177d), Stuart Binny (31y 44d) and Murali Kartik (31y 39d).

New Zealand:  Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham and Ish Sodhi replace Lockie Ferguson, Rachin Ravindra and Toss Astle.

India: Harshal Patel comes in for Mohd Siraj

18:36 PM IST: Playing XIs

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert(w), James Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee(c), Adam Milne, Trent Boult

India: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(w), Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel

18:34 PM IST: Toss

India have won the toss and they will bowl first.

18:33 PM IST: Harshal makes India debut

Hello and welcome to the 2nd T20 between India and New Zealand in Ranchi. Its a big day for fast bowler Harshal Patel, who has been handed his maiden India cap.    

India will not only want to clinch the series but look for a more resolute batting performance from the middle-order. In the absence of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav made full use of the opportunity at No.3 with a match-winning 62 off 42 balls in Jaipur.

The other big positive was the performance of senior bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin, who were brilliant in terms hitting the right areas while some of the inexperienced bowlers leaked runs at the other end.

 Starting from the T20 World Cup final against Australia in Dubai on November 14, New Zealand have now lost two matches on trot. With no Kane Williamson for the T20s, stand-in-captain Tim Southee will need a better team show if the Kiwis want to match India at home.

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