Guwahati, Jan 25 (UNI) It was a clinical, almost ruthless display by India as they completed a comprehensive 3-0 sweep of New Zealand with an eight-wicket win in the third T20 International at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.
Abhishek Sharma’s breathtaking assault at the top, followed by a captain’s knock from Suryakumar Yadav, ensured the contest was effectively decided well before its halfway mark.
Chasing 154, India lost Sanju Samson to the very first ball, but that solitary success for New Zealand only delayed the inevitable. What followed was an exhibition of modern T20 batting, marked by clarity of intent and exceptional execution.
Abhishek set the tone immediately, showing no hesitation in taking the bowlers on, whether pace or spin. His footwork was decisive, his bat swing free, and his shot selection largely impeccable.
Alongside him, Ishan Kishan provided brisk support, striking the ball cleanly and ensuring the pressure never eased. Kishan’s 28 off 13 balls kept the run rate soaring before he fell to Ish Sodhi, momentarily giving New Zealand some respite. However, by then the damage had largely been done.
Suryakumar then joined Abhishek and demonstrated once again why he is among the most difficult batsmen to bowl to in this format. There was innovation, yes, but more importantly there was control. He read length early, used the angles superbly, and played the sweep and lofted shots with remarkable balance.
The unbeaten 102-run partnership that followed was the decisive phase of the match.
Abhishek brought up his half-century at a remarkable pace, one of the fastest by an Indian in T20 Internationals, and India raced to 94 runs in the powerplay, a statistic that underlined New Zealand’s plight.
Suryakumar reached his own fifty with a flurry of boundaries, and fittingly, it was the captain who struck the winning blow. On 9.6 overs, a low full-toss from Glenn Phillips was dispatched firmly through a vacant mid-wicket region for four, a stroke that summed up India’s authority as they sealed the series in emphatic fashion.
Earlier, India’s bowlers had laid the platform with discipline and penetration, led by Jasprit Bumrah, who once again showed the value of high-quality fast bowling in any format. He struck with his very first delivery, bowling Tim Seifert with a ball that straightened just enough, and returned later to deliver a telling spell at the death.
Bumrah removed Kyle Jamieson with pace and precision, accounted for Mitchell Santner, and was sharp in the field during a run-out that further dented New Zealand’s resistance.
Harshit Rana continued his impressive run by dismissing Devon Conway early, while Hardik Pandya used his variations intelligently to pick up key wickets in the middle overs. Ravi Bishnoi chipped away effectively, breaking a developing partnership and ensuring New Zealand never truly recovered.
Glenn Phillips fought hard for his 48 and Mark Chapman added 32, but regular wickets meant New Zealand were restricted to 153 for 9, a total that always looked inadequate on a good batting surface.
In the end, it was a performance that reflected India’s growing depth and clarity in white-ball cricket — disciplined with the ball, fearless with the bat, and thoroughly deserving winners of both the match and the series.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand 153 for 9 in 20 overs, Glenn Phillips 48, Mark Chapman 32; Jasprit Bumrah 3/17, Ravi Bishnoi 2/18
India 155 for 2 in 10 overs, Abhishek Sharma 68 not out, Suryakumar Yadav 57 not out, Ishan Kishan 28
