India vs New Zealand 1st T20I stats: Indian team smashes several records in Nehra's swansong
After a measured start, the opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma tore into the Kiwi bowling line-up, smashing a number of records in the process during the first T20I against New Zealand at Delhi. The opening partners posted 80 each, resulting in India compiling 202-3 in their quota of 20 overs.
The Indian bowling then combined to put up a sustained effort, despite a few blemishes on the field, and bottled the Kiwi chase, restricting New Zealand to 149 and winning the match by 53 runs in Ashish Nehra's swansong.
Here are the numbers from the first innings:
1 - This is now the highest stand for any wicket for India in T20Is. The previous best was the 138-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at Dharamsala in 2015.
2 - Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan is the second instance of both Indian openers scoring 50+ in the same T20I. The other instance was Gautam Gambhir (58) & Virender Sehwag (68) vs Eng, Durban, 2007.
3 - This is the third 100+ opening stand for India in T20Is.
Here is the complete list:
158 - Rohit Sharma-Shikhar Dhawan, 2017
136 Gambhir-Viru v Eng, Durban, 2007
103* Rahul-Mandeep v Zim, Harare, 2016
5 - India finally managed to beat New Zealand in T20Is, in their sixth attempt. Here are the most T20Is before beating an opponent:
7 Ban v Pak (2007-15)
5 NZ v Aus (2005-16)
5 Ind v NZ (2007-17) *
4 NZ v Pak (2007-10)
4 WI v SL (2009-12)
4 Ban v SL (2007-16)
143 - The previous highest stand by a pair against New Zealand in T20Is was between Alex Hales and Michael Lumb at Wellington in 2013. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan went past their score.
16 - No opening pair has batted 16 overs while batting first in T20Is. Previous highest was Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt in 2010. Dhawan-Rohit managed to do so today.
38 - Nehra became the second oldest to appear for India in T20Is:
38 years 232 days - Rahul Dravid vs England, in Aug 2011
38 years 186 days - Ashish Nehra vs New Zealand, in Nov 2017
266 - Rohit Sharma has now hit the most sixes for India in T20 cricket - going past Suresh Raina’s record of 265 sixes.
Here’s the complete list:
265 - Suresh Raina
244 - Yuvraj Singh
226 - MS Dhoni
221- Yusuf Pathan
77 - The previous highest opening stand for India in T20Is, between Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane, vs Pakistan in Bangalore (2012).
80 - This is the highest score by Shikhar Dhawan in T20Is. His previous best was against Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2016.