Rohit Sharma was an elated captain as Team India registered a comprehensive 73-run victory over New Zealand in the final T20I at Eden Gardens to claim a clean sweep in the three-match series.
In the third game, the hosts piled up a massive 184/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Skipper Rohit was the top scorer with 32-ball 56 while Ishan Kishan (29), Shreyas Iyer (25), Deepak Chahar (21*), and Venkatesh Iyer (20) chipped in with handy twenties.
Defending the total, India bundled out the visitors for 111 in 17.2 overs. Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel starred with the ball, claiming three wickets by conceding only 9 runs in his three overs. Pacer Harshal Patel (3-26) also picked up two scalps in his three overs while Venkatesh Iyer (1-12), Yuzvendra Chahal (1-26), and Deepak Chahar (1-26) chipped in with wicket apiece.
"It's important to start well. That's always been my mindset. Once you've seen the pitch you know what you've got to do. It was nicely coming onto the bat with the dew coming early. We had something planned as a batting group. Wouldn't say it worked out well. Room for improvement in the middle order.
"The batting front - KL (Rahul) missed out today but his form is critical. Middle-order didn't get much opportunity except today. The spinners did the job for us in the entire series. The way (Ravichandran) Ashwin bowled, Akshar. And how (Yuzvendra) Chahal came back. Good to see Venkatesh Iyer bowling those overs with the skills he has," said Rohit Sharma in the post-match presentation ceremony.
The Indian captain also highlighted the importance of having a deep batting line-up in the shortest format of the game.
"Important for us going forward. I would prefer that going forward, teams around the world bat deep till No.8, No.9. Harshal (Patel), when he plays for Haryana, he opens the batting for them. And then Deepak (Chahar), we've seen what he did in Sri Lanka.
"Chahal was looking forward to bat as well. I've grown up playing on a concrete pitch back in the day. Once I started opening, a lot of things changed. Won't say it (playing the pull) comes naturally. I've practised a lot playing those shots," he added.
India and New Zealand will now square off in the two-match Test series, beginning Thursday in Kanpur.
(With ANI inputs)
