The Men in Blue registered their first T20 International win in New Zealand. India defeated New Zealand by seven wickets with seven balls to spare in the second T20I of the three-match T20I series at Eden Park, Auckland.
Krunal Pandya (3/28) and Rohit Sharma (50 off 29 balls) starred in India’s historic win in Auckland. India was handed over a big defeat in the T20I series opener in Wellington. They had lost the game by 80 runs- their bigger ever loss in terms of runs.
Batting first, New Zealand scored 158 runs, which India chased down with ease on the back of brilliant first wicket partnership of 79 runs between Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.
The series is now leveled at 1-1 with the series decider set to be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton on February 10.
Take a look at how Twitter reacted:
Same teams, same set of players, completely different result. Underlines the great importance of taking wickets early. #NZvIND
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) 8 February 2019
INDIAAA INDIAAA?????? pic.twitter.com/cmkzUNEPhD
— vennela kishore (@vennelakishore) 8 February 2019
“Pant finishes off in style”
Time to get used to this. #NZvIND
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) 8 February 2019
Why don’t India pick Rishabh Pant for ODIs if MS Dhoni is being pushed up the order? Young, fearless and explosive. Rather than going with the pedestrian Dinesh Karthik.
— Ismail Mulla (@IsmailMulla) 8 February 2019
#NZvIND #rishabhpant
Ye nashe mei dikhta hai aur ye nashe mei batting krta hai pic.twitter.com/csYbnTYIk9— हरSH??? (@_Msdian_07) 8 February 2019
This is nothing.
In the days to come, expect Rishabh Pant to clap with one hand.#NZvInd
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) 8 February 2019
People gain respect playing with one hand :
1 Tamil Iqbal against Sri Lanka
2 Rishabh Pant against NZ#INDvNZ
— Sunil- The cricketer (@1sInto2s) 8 February 2019
Watching Rishabh Pant’s batting is always fun, whether it’s Test or T20
— ᎢᎻᎾᎡ ᏚᏆNᏩᎻ ⚡ (@SRKsThor_) 8 February 2019
Am sure #MSD can exactly understand what goes through the mind of a Rishabh Pant – especially after Pant hits a massive one. Probably sees a lot of himself in Pant. Helps the youngster immensely when MSD is actually batting with him. #NZvIND
— RK (@RK_sports) 8 February 2019
Hammered at Hammilton, then bounced back at Wellington.
Hammed at Wellington, then bounced back at Auckland.
Roller-coaster time in NZ for India with Rohit Sharma as captain. #NZvIND
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) 8 February 2019
Most wins as captain after 14 T20Is:
12 M Clarke/ Sarfraz Ahmed/ ROHIT SHARMA **
11 Shoaib Malik/ Asghar Stanikzai
10 G Smith/ M Jayawardene#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/k8IChyMhM5— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) 8 February 2019
Fine cameo by Rishabh Pant.. Fantastic contribution with ball by Krunal Pandya! Rohit revelled as India register their maiden T20I win in New Zealand. Series locked at 1-1. Splendid all-round effort by Team India #NZvsIND
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) 8 February 2019
No. of wins for India in T20Is now:
Under Virat Kohli : 12 (20 matches)
Under Rohit Sharma : 12 (14 matches)#NZvIND— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) 8 February 2019
That game should’ve finished on a wide and it wasn’t called but with 1 run to win and Dhoni in the middle and a stadium full of noisy India fans I kind of don’t blame the umpire. ???♀️ #NZvIND
— Laura Caughey (@el_cee17) 8 February 2019
Leading run-getters in
Tests: Sachin Tendulkar – 15921
ODIs: Sachin Tendulkar – 18426
T20Is: Rohit Sharma – 2288#NZvIND— Bhupesh Dave (@Bhupesh_live) 8 February 2019
Most Runs in each format
Tests : S Tendulkar
ODIs : S Tendulkar
T20Is : R SharmaMost 100 in each format
Tests : S Tendulkar
ODIs : S Tendulkar
T20Is : R SharmaHighest Score in each format
Tests : B Lara
ODIs : R Sharma
T20Is : A FinchOne man in Common.?@ImRo45#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/uksP16ja80
— చిన్న రామయ్య™ (@nagatarakian) 8 February 2019
Watching @RishabPant777 batting today, I must say he should bat at the position where he could get senior at non strike. #NZvIND
— Er Md Azharuddin (@azhar4_official) 8 February 2019
Just imagine Virat Kohli in Kane Williamson’s place while that third umpire decision was made. Just imagine. #NZvIND
— Garima Srivastava (@Garima_Wisden) 8 February 2019
This batting unit surely has it in them to level the series and then we can have another exciting decider!#NZvIND
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) 8 February 2019
I hated getting out but post-retirement its changed. Now I don’t mind walking back to a Dugout!!! ????? Here is the Take 1 of my camera skills…or lack of them @VVSLaxman281 @HaydosTweets @anilkumble1074 @StarSportsIndia #SelectDugout pic.twitter.com/yw5ulOWJpz
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) 8 February 2019
Come on @GautamGambhir it’s all about balance buddy whether it is batting or camerawork ???. Let me show you how it’s done…. @StarSportsIndia https://t.co/6kju8V5qlb
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) 8 February 2019