IND vs NZ Live Score, 3rd T20I Updates: India clinch series 2-1 with a thumping 168-run win in 3rd T20I

IND vs NZ Live Score, 3rd T20I Updates: India trounced New Zealand by a heavy margin of 168 runs in the third and final T20I on Wednesday, February 1, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India are unbeaten in 13 bilateral series at home with the recent 2-1 triumph over New Zealand. Follow us for the IND vs NZ Live Score of the 3rd T20I at Sportskeeda.

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Hardik Pandya (Player of the series): I don't mind it, but there were some performances which were exceptional. Credit goes to the whole support staff and the team. I'm receiving the trophy for the team and I'm happy for the team. I've always tried to read the situation what was required at the time rather than preconceived ideas. I've had to evolve as a player and it has helped me as well. In my captaincy, that's what I look for - keep it simple, do what is required at that time. I have a simple rule with captaincy - if I am going down, I am going down on my terms. I have to take ownership of things. We spoke about having to take challenges. When we played the IPL final I felt the second innings was spicier. If you're back is against the wall we want to come out punching. Hopefully when the right time comes we can do it as a group.

India won by 168 runs.

Mitchell Santner: It was a little disappointing. It would have been nice to take home the trophy but India were really good. Obviously Gill's in pretty good nick at the moment. Obviously tough if you lose five wickets in the powerplay. In India it can be challenging in the first few overs if it is swinging and doing a bit. Once it flattens out it gets better. But when you lose too many it's hard to catch up. (Looking ahead to the ODI World Cup on these shores later this year) That time of the year there could be a bit of dew around. You have to plan accordingly and I think most teams might bowl first. We saw some pretty good wickets in the ODI series. If we see such wickets in the World Cup it'll be great to be a part of. For us it's just about being able to chip wickets out and restricting teams to 320 on wickets like that.

Rahul Tripathi: Nothing different. I was just looking to keep the same intent and stick to what went well for me in the IPL. I just wanted to stick to the same process. Would definitely be happier if I got some more runs but it was good to contribute. It was an important stage of the innings, so happy to do well. Playing for your country is a responsibility. You need to trust your process. You have to know what the team requires at that moment and also make the most of the Powerplay. That's what Rahul sir and all have been telling me, to keep playing the way I play and go for options I feel like I can take on. Glad I could do that. It was a terrific atmosphere. It's nice to play in front of such a crowd and really happy to win the series.

Match Summary

Shubman Gill's yet another sublime knock in white-ball cricket helped India register a mammoth total. The Indian opener was unbeaten on 126 as India posted 234 on the board.

Cameos by Rahul Tripathi (44), Hardik Pandya (30) and Suryakumar Yadav (24) helped India record the highest total in T20Is at the Narendra Modi Stadium, beating their previous best of 224.

Indian bowlers rattled New Zealand as they lost five wickets inside powerplay. Barring Daryl Mitchell, no other Kiwi showed intensity in the daunting chase.

Indian skipper Hardik Pandya starred with ball to record his career-best T20I figures - 4/16. New Zealand posted their third lowest score in T20Is after they were bowled out for 66 in 12.1 overs.

NZ bowled out for 66

Hardik Pandya got Blair Tickner caught at the end of the 12th over. Umran Malik finished the game with the dismissal of Mitchell.

The New Zealand batter attempted to pull the quick and bounced ball from Malik.
Mistimed it and Shivam Mavi ran from deep mid-wicket to complete catch, match and the series.

NZ 66/10 (12.1 overs) Daryl Mitchell 35; Hardik Pandya 4/16

Six!!!! Hold on Indian bowlers Mitchell is not ready to throw his wicket. Mitchell smashed it straight over bowler Shivam Mavi's head to hit fourth six of the day.

With Mitchell's shot New Zealand have escaped the possibility of recording their lowest T20I total. Once they crossed 60 they were out of the unwanted record.

NZ 65/8 (11 overs)

Hardik picks his third wicket

Hardik Pandya dismissed Lockie Ferguson to dismantle New Zealand's batting order. If anything that can go in New Zealand's favour is a cameo by Daryl Mitchell.

Lockie Ferguson 0 (4 balls) c Umran Malik b Hardik Pandya

Mavi twin strikes crush New Zealand

Shivam Mavi dismissed New Zealand stand-in skipper Mitchell Santner and spin bowler Ish Sodhi on consecutive balls.

Santner went for the big shot as he pulled it high for Suryakumar to take a well judged catch deep-wicket, his third catch of the day.

Sodhi was caught by Rahul Trilathi at backward point as the visitors lost their seventh wicket down.

NZ 53/7 (9 overs) Daryl Mitchell 23; Shivam Mavi 2/3

Mitchell hits third six of the day

Six!!! Mitchell looks to plsy some big shots here. Goes down the track to find some room and clears Kuldeep Yadav's flighted delivery over long-off for a six.

NZ 50/5 (8 overs) Daryl Mitchell 22; Hardik Pandya 2/12

What a shot Mitchell

Six!!! Daryl Mitchell chipped it over the long-off boundary rope for a six. A fabulous shot by the middle order batter, leaving something for the crowd to roar in stands.

NZ 30/5 (6 overs) Daryl Mitchell 13; Hardik Pandya 2/12

Umran Malik cleans up Michael Bracewell

Umran Malik ends New Zealand's slightest chances of a fightback in this game. On return to the side after missing the second T20I, Malik crashed into Bracewell's stumls with his pace. Half of the New Zealand side are back into the dressing room now.

Michael Bracewell 8 (8 balls; 1 six) b Umran Malik

Daryl Mitchell hits boundary

Four!!! Daryl Mitchell pulled it for a four in front of the square. A short of length from Arshdeep and some runs for New Zealand.

NZ 21/4 (4 overs) Michael Bracewell 8; Arshdeep Singh 2/8

Six!!! Bracewell announces himself as he swivelled and pulled for a six. Bracewell reminds India of a possibiloty of Hyderabad innings today.

New Zealand 13/4 (3 overs) Michael Bracewell 6; Arshdeep Singh 2/1

Hardik sends Glenn Phillips packing

It was a very similar mode of dismissal to which Finn Allen departed. Once again the short of length ball did its trick. Phillips played the cross-batted shot but lack of width induced an outside edge. Suryakumar times it perfectly to catch yet another stunner today.

Glenn Phillips 2 (7 balls) c Suryakumar Yadav b Hardik Pandya

Arshdeep twin blows push NZ on backfoot

Arshdeep Singh dismissed Devon Conway and Mark Chapman in the second over before New Zealand could find any moment to breathe. Indian bowlers are heavy in the start.

NZ 5/3 (2 overs) Finn Allen 3; Arshdeep Singh 2/1

Hardik Pandya picks a wicket in 1st over

Hardik Pandya bowled short of the length delivery with some away swing genereted. Allen slashed it but found the outside edge of the bat. Suryakumar Yadav caught a stunning catch to give the Blackcaps their first blow.

Finn Allen 3 (4 balls) c Suryakumar Yadav b Hardik Pandya

Highest Individual Scores in T20Is

Shubman Gill 126* (vs NZ, today)

Virat Kohli 122* (vs Afghanistan, September 2022)

Rohit Sharma 118 (vs Sri Lanka, December 2017)

Daryl Mitchell gets Hardik Pandya

Some respite for New Zealand in the final over as Daryl Mitchell gave just six runs and picked the wicket of Hardik Pandya. However, the damage was already done courtesy Shubman Gill's fireworks.

Hardik Pandya 30 (17 balls; four boundaries and one six) c Michael Bracewell b Daryl Mitchell

IND 234/4 (20 overs) Shubman Gill 126*; Daryl Mitchell 1/6

Gill hammers Listener

Gill hit two fours and six to mess with the debutant pacer's figures. Another big over for India and Listener finished his spell with 0/42 from four overs (31 runs in last two overs).

IND 228/3 (19 overs) Shubman Gill 123; Michael Bracewell 1/8

Shubman Gill hits maiden T20I ton

Gill smashed the full length delivery off Ferguson past the extra cover for a four to reach the three-figure mark for the first time in T20 Internationals.

The celebrations continued as Gill widened his arms aloft and bowed to the crowd and his teammates.

A six followed the next ball over deep mid-wicket. Hardik Pandya also dispatched one in the stands as Lockie Ferguson leaked 18 runs in the 18th over.

IND 211/3 (18 overs) Shubman Gill 108; Michael Bracewell 1/8

Shubman Gill goes berserk

Gill smashed successive sixes off Lister followed by two more against Tickner in the next over. Tickner conceded a total of 23 runs in the 17th over.

IND 193/3 (17 overs) Shubman Gill 97; Michael Bracewell 1/8

Gill smashed Ferguson for a 6

Gill wants to play a big innings tonight. Playing on the backfoot, Gill pulled Ferguson's legcutter over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Hardik smashed a boundary on the final ball.

IND 144/3 Shubman Gill 61; Michael Bracewell 1/8

Tickner has last laugh against Suryakumar

Suryakumar creamed Tickner's angled delivery over fine leg for a six. The batter looked to target the mid-on region on the next ball. Bracewell moved across and dived with both hands low. A spectacular catch to complete the dismissal. Suryakumar won't be able to enforce big runs in the middle and death overs today.

Suryakumar Yadav 24 (13 balls; one boundary and two sixes) c Michael Bracewell b Blair Tickner

Fifty Shubman Gill

A single to score maiden fifty in T20 Internationals. Gill carried his 50-over form in the final game even though he struggles in the first two games. But turns up for the team at the apt moment.

IND 118/2 (12 overs) Shubman Gill 51; Michael Bracewell 1/8

Suryakumar hits Ish Sodhi for boundaries

Suryakumar played a cut short on the second ball of his innings to clear the backward point region for a four.

As Sodho returned to bowl his third over, Suryakumar cleared his front leg to play the slog-sweep for a six over deep mid-wicket.

IND 112/2 (11 overs) Shubman Gill 47; Michael Bracwell 1/8

Tripathi out

Rahul Tripathi started the ninth over with a six over long-off against Sodhi. The batter went to pull it the very next ball but Lockie Ferguson took a comfortable catch at backward square leg. That's end of Tripathi's handy cameo.

Rahul Tripathi 44 (22 balls; 4 fours and 3 sixes) c Lockie Fergusonn b Ish Sodhi

Tripathi shows A game against spin

After charging against Ferguson, the India No.3 shows his temparament against the Kiwi spinners. A cover drive off Ish Sodhi for a boundary continued with a six and a four against Mitchell Santner.

IND 81/8 (8 overs) Shubman Gill 39; Michael Bracewell 1/8

Tripathi smashes Ferguson

Tripathi joins Gill in playing some delightful strokes. Tripathi takes on
Lockie Ferguson with a four and a six in the first three balls of the innings. India made 58 runs in the mandatory powerplay overs.

IND 58/1 (6 overs) Shubman Gill 34; Michael Bracewell 1/8

Gill takes on Tickner

Gill smashed Tickner for three boundaries in the fifth over. The opener looks in a great touch after a brief drought in the first two games.

A flick over mid-wicket, a full-off drive and a watcful pull shots were guided toward boundary lines. Nothing working for Tickner bowling full or shot not helping his cause.

IND 44/1 (5 overs) Shubman Gill 32; Michael Bracewell 1/8

Shubman Gill hasn't been bothered with Ishan's dismissal. He has played some terrific shots - a cover drive off Lister for four, a backfoot punch for four off Bracewell, a cut off Lockie Ferguson for his third boundary.

Runs are flowing from the other end as Rahul Tripathi played a scoop shot against Ferguson.

Lister bowled a great over with just five runs coming from it. Two overs and 11 runs is anytime a good thing for fast bowler on debut.

IND 30/1 (4 overs) Shubman Gill 19; Michael Bracewell 1/8

Bracewell draws the first blood for the Blackcaps

Ishan Kishan was trapped for leg-before wicket by Michael Bracewell in the second over. A flat delivery from the off-spinner struck the front pad of the left-handed batter. The player challenged the decision upstairs but there was no change after the review with the ball clipping the top of the middle stumps according to the technology.

Ishan Kishan 1 (3 balls) LBW b Michael Bracewell

Gill hits 4!

Four!!! Gill brings the cover drive to hit the first boundary of the match.

Lister started the over with a dot ball. Tried to angle the delivery inside.

IND 6/0 (1 over)

Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill are out in the middle. Debutant Ben Lister is set to bowl to Ishan.

U19 Women's team gets a huge roar

Legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar did the honours to felicitate the promising cricketers of the country. India U19 team won the inaugural edition of the U19 T20 World Cup after registering a seven-wicket win over England in the final in Potchefstroom on Sunday.

What are the pitch conditions?

According to the official broadcasters before the toss, the pitch has some brown spots on it. The ball will come on and will only get better as the match moves in the evening. With the dew factor present, the pitch is dubbed to be bowling first.

So the news from the centre is that both India and New Zealand have made one change in their squad with a fast bowler. Umran Malik has replaced leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, while Ben Lister makes his international debut for the Blackcaps as he comes in the place of Jacob Duffy.

What New Zealand captain said?

Mitchell Santner: Looks like a pretty good surface eitherway. We'll have to do something first up. It was a challenge. 120 might have done the job there. We have to adapt and this looks like a better surface. It's my first time here. With the series on the line, it doesn't get better than this. The boys are ready to go. Both surfaces were extremely different. We did a pretty good job in trying to defend the low totals but it'll be a bit different today with batters looking for the big boundary. One change. Ben Lister comes in for Jacob Duffy.

What India captain said?

Hardik Pandya: We will bat first. Just want to put some runs on the board and take on the game from there. It looks like a very good wicket. When we played the IPL final here, the ball did much more in the second innings. Keeping that in mind, we wanted to bat first. The approach they are showing is giving us a lot of confidence. They were difficult tracks and all the batters' eyes have lit up looking at this surface. These are the games we strive for, we've spoken about this. Winning and losing happens but these knockout games teach you a lot. One change. Umran comes back in for Yuzi.

New Zealand Playing XI

Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Lister, Blair Tickner

India Playing XI

Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Washington Sundar, Deepak Hooda, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

India to bat first

India have won the toss and have decided to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Michael Rippon, Dane Cleaver, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy, Henry Shipley, Ben Lister.

India squad: Hardik Pandya (c), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Prithvi Shaw, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Mukesh Kumar, Umran Malik.

New Zealand were unchanged for the first two games and are likely to field the same team in the series-decider rubber.

Many eyes will be looking for a possibility of Prithvi Shaw comeback after Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan's failures in the first two games.