Dead rubber? Not an issue. Calcuttans were craving for some star-filled entertainment after missing out on quality cricket for almost two years because of the pandemic. Sunday provided the perfect opportunity to satiate their long-drawn hunger.
Throwing aside Covid protocols, more than three-fourths of Eden Gardens was filled to capacity. Rohit Sharma’s men began with a bang, huffed and puffed in the middle overs before racing away to 184 at the death. It was enough to secure them a 73-run victory, and with it a clean sweep of the three-match series.
Playing three matches in six days, 72 hours after the T20 World Cup final, New Zealand always looked jaded and out of sync. More than winning, it was an opportunity for new head coach Rahul Dravid to have a look at the India players before the Test series and the tour of South Africa.
New Zealand lost their top three wickets within five overs and it proved to be a tough chase. Martin Guptill survived a dropped chance on 16 and the visitors had hope till he was there at the crease. Once Yuzvendra Chahal got him in the 11th over, they flickered out.
Tim Seifert even banged his bat in frustration after being run out. The regular fall of wickets meant the match ended much before the curfew hours set in.
India captain Rohit Sharma shares the series-winners’ trophy with teammates.
Axar Patel (3/9) provided India with early breakthroughs but there were useful spells from Chahal and Harshal Patel, too. Venkatesh Iyer finally got to bowl and didn’t disappoint.
If Virat Kohli’s luck with the toss let India down on several occasions, Rohit has maintained a clean record in this series. Perhaps in a bid to get used to the dew when batting first, Rohit deviated from tradition on Sunday.
Resting KL Rahul meant that Ishan Kishan would open with Rohit. The pair sent the New Zealand bowlers into a tizzy as Trent Boult and Adam Milne went for easy runs all around the park.
Rohit was severe on Boult and Lockie Ferguson as India zoomed to 69 in the Powerplay overs. He pulled Boult over fine leg for a six in the third over before giving Ferguson the same treatment three overs later. In between Ferguson was again at the receiving end, this time over long off.
Mohammed Azharuddin and VVS Laxman may have been the undisputed kings of Eden Gardens in Test cricket, but when it comes to the limited overs game, Rohit stands tall. Besides his record 264 in ODIs, he has few more centuries for Mumbai Indians at this venue.
Kishan wasn’t far behind making full use of the width on offer. But once Mitchell Santner came on in the seventh over, wickets tumbled. Kishan nicked to the wicketkeeper and Suryakumar Yadav failed to clear extra cover.
Stand-in captain Santner was making it difficult with his slower and flatter deliveries. Rishabh Pant’s flamboyance didn’t pay off and India suddenly crumbled to 83 for three.
Ish Sodhi too decided to join the party as he removed Rohit (56 off 31 balls) with a brilliant one-handed catch. That proved to be a roadblock but it also provided an opportunity for Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh to prove their utility in the side.
Santner and Sodhi had put the visitors back on track and the Iyers struggled to break free.
It was left to Harshal Patel and Deepak Chahar to take the initiative as India added 50 runs in the last five overs. It had been a chance for Rohit’s men to set the template when batting first and they showed the right intent.