IND VS NZ: India record their biggest win in T20I cricket history; Check out some interesting facts from the contest

IND VS NZ 3rd T20I: India defeated New Zealand by 168 runs in the final T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to record their biggest-ever victory (by runs) in T20I cricket history. With the win, India clinched the three-match series 2-1. India’s previous biggest win in T20I cricket came on June 29, 2018, when they defeated Ireland by 143 runs.

Team India extended their successful start to the new year. The two teams went into the decider at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on equal footing, with the Indian team having pulled off an audacious six-wicket win in Lucknow after suffering a 21-run loss in Ranchi last week. Many had expected the final white-ball game of the Indian home season to be a closely-fought affair, given the fight, the Black Caps had exhibited in the last two games.

The Men in Blue, instead, would end up dishing out one of their most clinical displays ever, winning by a record 168 runs to win yet another limited-overs bilateral series at home, a thrashing that mirrored their annihilation of the Sri Lankans in the final one-dayer in Thiruvananthapuram.

IND VS NZ 3rd T20I: Brief Highlight

India opted to bat after winning the toss, and that decision did wonders for Shubman Gill, who scored his first T20I century, having just made his debut in the format in early January. His knock took the hosts to a mammoth total of 234/4, and New Zealand could not even manage half of that, being bundled out for just 66 in 12.1 overs.

Gill for his magnificent ton was adjudged the Player of the match, while captain Hardik received Player of the series title for his all-round performance and leading his team from the front.

Fact check from the contest:

• This 168-run win over the Kiwis on Wednesday is India’s biggest margin of victory in T20Is. India’s previous biggest T20I win was against Ireland in Dublin, back in 2018.
• This victory margin was also the biggest margin of win in a T20I between two Full Member nations.
• Their total of 66 was New Zealand’s second lowest in T20Is. The Kiwis had been previously bundled out for 60 on two separate occasions, one against Sri Lanka in 2014, and then against Bangladesh in 2021.
• New Zealand’s 60 against India on Wednesday was also the lowest T20I total by any team against India. Ireland had made just 70 in 2018, while England were bundled out for 80 by India in a T20 World Cup game in 2012.
• Wednesday was just the second occasion when an Indian batter’s score outscored a team’s total in a T20I. Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 122 had overtaken Afghanistan’s 111/8 in Dubai last year. On Wednesday, Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 126 which was way more than the Kiwis total of 66.
• Hardik Pandya became the first Indian captain to take a four-wicket in haul in T20Is. He also became the first Indian captain since Anil Kumble in 2008 in any format to do so. Kumble had taken four wickets in both innings of the Sydney Test against Australia in 2008.
• It was just the second time when Indian pacers took all 10 wickets in a T20I innings. The only other occasion was against Pakistan in Dubai in 2022.

WATCH: Viral Video of Hardik Pandya handing over the trophy to Prithvi Shaw after series win over NZ

A video has gone viral showing Team India stand-in captain Hardik Pandya handing the trophy to Prithvi Shaw after collecting it following India’s 2-1 T20I series victory in IND VS NZ T20I series. Prithvi did not feature in a single match in the series. The 23-year-old last featured in playing XI for India in July 2021.

Also read: We’ve made the right decision to not play a tour match : Steve Smith takes dig at Indian pitches

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