A stunning 65 from Shivam Dube – just 23 balls long – lit up the match, yet it wasn’t enough as India fell short by 50 runs versus New Zealand in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. That stumble stopped India from sweeping the series, even while they still hold a 3–1 edge heading into the final clash.
Falling short on a tough chase of 216, India’s batting wobbled from the start, even though Dube sparked some energy near the end. Tight bowling by the visiting side, along with key wickets at crucial moments, made sure Dube’s fight faded before turning into something memorable.
Right away things went wrong for India. Because Ishan Kishan could not play – hurt, though details were missing – Abhishek Sharma stepped up to open with skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Trouble struck instantly when Abhishek faced the first delivery, lifting it loosely only to find Matt Henry had set a trap; Devon Conway waited at deep point and took the catch without moving much. Then came another stumble just after, Suryakumar reaching out nervously against Jacob Duffy, who snapped up the return catch so sharp it looked effortless. At nine runs on the board, two wickets had already fallen.
Rinku Singh tried to hold things together alongside Sanju Samson, yet the scoring needed kept climbing past thirteen an over. Off Duffy came a graceful flick over deep backward square, one moment showing just what Samson can do. That spark didn’t last long though – the next thing he knew, Santner’s flatter ball had slipped through and knocked back the stumps. Twenty four runs off fifteen deliveries ended that attempt, another beginning without follow-through.
Suddenly, Rinku pushed forward with a gritty 39, spinning deliveries into gaps whenever space appeared. Yet New Zealand’s pace attack held firm – narrow lengths, sneaky changes in pace keeping runs quiet. Hardik arrived amid hope he’d shift gears; instead, rhythm slipped away fast. Two runs later, gone he was, caught low near the fence. That collapse stung – India wobbled at 82 for five by the 11th.
Just when it seemed done, hope flickered. Then came Shivam Dube.
Even as pressure built, Dube struck back hard, sparking sudden energy through the stands in Vizag. His long arms and strength turned defense into offense, aiming straight at New Zealand’s slow bowlers without hesitation. Then, during Sodhi’s third round of throws, everything shifted – 29 runs erupted from one over, fueled by hits of 4, 6, 4, 6, 6 in quick fire bursts, pulling chance toward India for a fleeting breath.
A narrow lbw moment at 46 slipped past Dube, saved by the screen’s verdict. Fifty arrived fast – just fifteen deliveries ticked off – one of India’s quickest ever in T20s. Seven huge hits soared deep into the night, each one launched with raw strength. Sharp fours followed through tight gaps, struck with precision. Power mixed with grace shaped every blow he landed.
A burst of 63 came alongside Harshit Rana from the sixth wicket drop, yet Rana himself didn’t score much. Dube kept swinging hard, feeding small chances, until luck turned on a strange exit. The ball, struck straight by Rana, bounced off Matt Henry’s fingers, then smashed into the bails opposite – Dube just shy. That moment shut the door on India’s effort; soon after, they folded at 165.
New Zealand started strong, thanks to a powerful start by Tim Seifert and Devon Conway at the top. Off the first ball, Seifert looked sharp – just back from the Big Bash League, he attacked without delay. Hitting seven boundaries and three maximums, his 62 came fast, only 36 deliveries long. Facing India’s main fast bowlers right away, he stood tall. Arshdeep Singh felt the heat first, then Bumrah bore the brunt of his intent.
Fifty came fast, by the fourth over, as New Zealand motored to 71 with both batters settled. At first, Conway stayed backseat, letting events unfold, then pushed harder – ending with 44 under his name. The start of their innings held firm, growing into a hundred-run stand for the first wicket.
Back on track through tight spells, India broke New Zealand’s steady start by taking quick wickets – sliding them from 100 for none to 137 for four. Still, a sharp finish came alive when Daryl Mitchell stayed put, blasting 39 not out from just 18 deliveries late in the innings, lifting his side to a solid 215 for seven.
Falling short after a delayed push, India couldn’t halt New Zealand’s balanced attack, which held firm to leave the contest open ahead of the last game.
Scores:
New Zealand 215 for 7 Tim Seifert 62 Devon Conway 44 Daryl Mitchell 39 Arshdeep Singh 2 for 33
India 165 all out Shivam Dube 65 Rinku Singh 39 Mitchell Santner 3-26 Jacob Duffy 2-33
