Kolkata: The Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid era of Indian cricket got off to a dream start with India completing a 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand, after defeating New Zealand by 73 runs in the third and final match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
Rohit's 56 off 31 balls and Axar Patel's 3 for 9 in 3 overs, besides Deepak Chahar's 21 off 8 balls, helped India complete the clean sweep after posting 184 for 7 and then skittling out the Blackcaps for 111 in 18th over.
Harshal Patel also chipped in with 18 runs off 11 balls and then picked up two wickets to join the party.
Batting first, Rohit and Ishan Kishan gave a rollicking start, as both the openers showed signs of aggression from the very first over. But, Suryakumar Yadav (0) and Rishabh Pant (4) did not have any fun as they perished cheaply.
Rohit was probably frustrated that he could not go past Virat Kohli as the highest run-getter in T20Is as he departed. He fell 21 runs short to surpass Kohli's tally of 3227 runs. The opener now has a tally of 3197 runs in his 119-match T20I career.
After India won the toss and opted to bat, Ishan and Rohit hit boundaries that served to stimulate the scoresheets. Ishan played two cracking boundaries off Trent Boult in the very first over which gave him the push.
They added 69 for the first wicket in just 38 balls, with the boundaries regularly being peppered. Ishan manoeuvred the ball effectively, using his feet to create opportunities, while it was more stand and deliver for Rohit.
The Mumbaikar got off to a flyer, but his vintage signs came to light when he struck two boundaries and a six in sixth over from Lockie Ferguson, who leaked 20 runs in his over. From thereon it didn’t really matter what the Kiwis threw at him as Rohit went past his 26th T20I half-century.
Ish Sodhi finally enticed a big shot from Rohit, who reached for the wider ball and was caught and bowled. Thereafter, there was a mini batting collapse when India were reduced to 103 for 4, but Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer had a decent stand to rebuild the innings.
Boult had Venkatesh Iyer (20 off 15 balls) caught by Mark Chapman. Adam Milne then grabbed Shreyas Iyer's (25 off 20 balls) wicket.
Harshal and Chahar hit a few lusty blows towards the end to get the momentum back in India's favour.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner was the pick of the lot as he got three wickets to slow things down after Rohit and Ishan's blitzkrieg.
After the interval, India made early breakthroughs as Axar removed Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips in five overs.
Things started to look up for New Zealand as Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert added 39 runs for the fourth wicket, but the Kiwi opener left the scene after scoring 51 off 36 balls with four boundaries and as many sixes.
Things only got worse for the Blackcaps as 69 for 4 95 for 9 courtesy of two run-outs. The tourists were in freefall.
Lockie Ferguson, batting with the tailender Trent Boult, whacked two big sixes, but succumbed to Chahar caught and bowled, who took his only wicket of the match.
Harshal accounted for the back-end collapse by taking two wickets of James Neesham and Ish Sodhi. (UNI)
