IND vs NZ 2021: Twitter Reacts As India Begins New T20I Era With A Win Against New Zealand

The Indian T20I team, with its new captain and new head coach, began the journey with a clinical win against a Kane Williamson-less New Zealand side still hurting from the T20 World Cup final loss.

Chasing a target of 165, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma brought up the 50-run partnership in five overs. Both played sumptuous pull shots but the same shot brought about the downfall of Rahul. His wicket brought Suryakumar Yadav to the crease, and the Mumbai pair took the innings forward.

Rohit continued his strokeplay but fell just two runs short of a well-deserved fifty on his full-time T20I captaincy debut. His MI teammate didn’t miss the opportunity, however, as he brought up his fifty with nonchalance. He fell playing one too many shots but the rest of the middle-order completed the task.

Earlier, Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided the early breakthrough, removing the dangerous Daryl Mitchell with a beautiful inswinger. What followed was an excellent recovery partnership between Mark Chapman and Martin Guptill. The duo put on 109 runs for the second wicket.

Chapman became the first player to score fifties for two nations in the shortest format. Guptill also got to his fifty and looked set to take-off but wickets tumbled in the final few overs which restricted the total to 164. It wasn’t enough as the Indian team chased it down but not without a few hiccups in the end.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to India’s win:

K<!---->o<!---->o<!----> <!---->A<!---->p<!---->p

T<!---->h<!---->e<!----> <!---->c<!---->h<!---->a<!---->n<!---->t<!---->i<!---->n<!---->g<!----> <!---->J<!---->a<!---->i<!---->p<!---->u<!---->r<!----> <!---->c<!---->r<!---->o<!---->w<!---->d<!----> <!---->r<!---->e<!---->m<!---->i<!---->n<!---->d<!---->s<!----> <!---->m<!---->e<!----> <!---->o<!---->f<!----> <!---->m<!---->y<!----> <!---->b<!---->i<!---->r<!---->t<!---->h<!---->d<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->c<!---->e<!---->n<!---->t<!---->u<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->k<!---->n<!---->o<!---->c<!---->k<!----> <!---->t<!---->h<!---->e<!---->r<!---->e<!---->!

The entire crowd was singing and wishing me happy birthday.
Still getting goosebumps! ?

#INDvsNZ

– V<!---->i<!---->n<!---->o<!---->d<!----> <!---->K<!---->a<!---->m<!---->b<!---->l<!---->i<!----> <!---->(<!---->@<!---->v<!---->i<!---->n<!---->o<!---->d<!---->k<!---->a<!---->m<!---->b<!---->l<!---->i<!---->) 17 Nov 2021

#<!---->T<!---->2<!---->0<!---->W<!---->o<!---->r<!---->l<!---->d<!---->C<!---->u<!---->p ⏩ #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->N<!---->Z ? p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->x<!---->y<!---->A<!---->z<!---->8<!---->7<!---->s<!---->l<!---->X<!---->g

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Well done team india ?? good win @<!---->s<!---->u<!---->r<!---->y<!---->a<!---->_<!---->1<!---->4<!---->k<!---->u<!---->m<!---->a<!---->r @<!---->I<!---->m<!---->R<!---->o<!---->4<!---->5 well played .. congratulations #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->N<!---->Z

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

We should have won that convincingly. But all is well that ends well. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->N<!---->Z

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Surya’s boundary strokes are full of risk…but that’s exactly what makes him a dangerous T20 batter. If India’s indeed looking to develop a more aggressive template in T20i, India should continue investing in him. #<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->v<!---->N<!---->Z

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

We should have won that convincingly. But all is well that ends well. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->N<!---->Z

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Rishabh Pant, the finisher for India, they need 3 from 3 and finished the game with a four and India take 1-0 lead in the T20 series.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Excellent start to the new era of Indian cricket. Congratulations team India on the victory. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->N<!---->Z #<!---->R<!---->a<!---->h<!---->u<!---->l<!---->D<!---->r<!---->a<!---->v<!---->i<!---->d #<!---->R<!---->o<!---->h<!---->i<!---->t<!---->h<!---->S<!---->h<!---->a<!---->r<!---->m<!---->a #<!---->T<!---->e<!---->a<!---->m<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->i<!---->a @<!---->B<!---->C<!---->C<!---->I

— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

#<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->N<!---->Z #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->N<!---->Z

MS Dhoni seeing Rishabh Pant finishing the match off with a 4: p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->d<!---->U<!---->O<!---->S<!---->C<!---->i<!---->l<!---->w<!---->W<!---->R

— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Really good game of cricket. NZ fought back really well. Guptill and Chapman batted well. Ashwin bowled well. Rohit, SKY and Pant finishing it off

— Rivaan (@rivaanathwal31) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Once again missing someone in "Run-Chase" ?
Retirement ke baad kya hoga apna #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->N<!---->Z #<!---->K<!---->o<!---->h<!---->l<!---->i

— Browysport ︎ (@browysport) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

A bit too close for comfort for sure for team India but you have to hand it to this #<!---->N<!---->e<!---->w<!---->Z<!---->e<!---->a<!---->l<!---->a<!---->n<!---->d team. Not easy at all just a couple of days post the World Cup final. Terrific stuff. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->N<!---->Z

— RK (@RK_sports) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Lovely! I get home and watch Rishabh finish the game. Good match to start the series. #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->N<!---->Z

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) N<!---->o<!---->v<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Also Read – One Thing With Rahul Dravid Is He Will Not Get Carried Away With All The Success – Gautam Gambhir