3 times India registered a clean sweep in T20Is away from home

India outsmarted the Kiwis 5-0 in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series in New Zealand. This was the first time in cricketing history that a team had won all five matches in a five-game T20I series.

Team India completed the clean sweep with a close win in the final T20I at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. For the third game in a row, India came back from behind to defeat the Kiwis, and in the process create a record.

The magnitude of India’s achievement can be gauged from the fact that this was only the third time that India had registered a clean sweep in a T20I series away from home (minimum of three matches).

The previous two whitewashes were registered in Australia in 2015-16 and against West Indies in USA / West Indies in 2019. As India bask in the glory of their latest clean sweep, let’s take an in depth look at the three occasions they blanked opponents away from home in T20Is.

#3 Against Australia in Australia 2015-16 (3-0)

Team India

A clinical India defeated Australia 3-0 in the three-match T20I series Down Under at the beginning of 2016. In the first match at Adelaide, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah were the stars as India won the contest by 37 runs.

After being put into bat, Kohli’s unbeaten 90 from 55 balls led India to an impressive total of 188 for 3. In reply, the Aussies were also out for 151 as Bumrah claimed 3 for 23. He dismissed David Warner at the top, and returned to clean up the tail.

Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin (2 for 28) and Ravindra Jadeja (2 for 21) also chipped in as India came up with a complete bowling effort.

In the second T20I at Melbourne, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan combined with Kohli to help India to 184 for 3 batting first. While Rohit made 60 from 47, Dhawan contributed 42 from 32 and Kohli an unbeaten 59 from 33.

Australia got off to a brilliant start with Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh adding 94 for the opening wicket in 9.5 overs. However, once the partnership was broken, the Aussies faltered. Finch was run out for 74 from 48.

For India, Bumrah and Jadeja again chipped in with two scalps each.

With the series in the bag, India came up with another shining effort at Sydney. This time, Australia batted first and Shane Watson made an astonishing 124 not out from 71 balls. His knock single-handedly lifted the Aussies to 197 for 5.

India’s combined brilliance with the bat though saw Watson’s incredible innings go in vain. Rohit (52 from 38) and Kohli (50 from 36) kept India in the chase throughout before Suresh Raina (49 not out from 25) took India to a clean sweep with a sizzling knock.

#2 Against West Indies in West Indies / USA 2019 (3-0)

Deepak Chahar

India blanked West Indies 3-0 in the three-match T20I series played in USA and West Indies in August 2019. The first game of the series played at Lauderhill was a low scoring one with India getting home by four wickets in the end.

This game is well remembered for Navdeep Saini’s impressive debut. He claimed 3 for 17, dismissing Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard and Shimron Hetymer as West Indies managed only 95 for 9 in their 20 overs.

India did not have it easy in the chase though and kept losing wickets at regular intervals, eventually scraping home by four wickets.

India also emerged victorious in the second T20I at Lauderhill in a rain-hit game. Rohit’s 67 from 51 was the key contribution as India posted 167 for 5.

Krunal Pandya’s all-round effort was also crucial to India clinching the series. After scoring an unbeaten 20 from 13, he picked up 2 for 23, including the wicket of the well-set Rovman Powell for 54.

West Indies were 98 for 4 in 15.3 overs when bad weather stopped play. India were declared winners in 22 runs (D/L method).

India completed the clean sweep at Providence courtesy a brilliant bowling spell by Deepak Chahar. The newcomer sent back Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine and Shimron Hetmyer within the first four overs to leave the Windies reeling at 14 for 3.

Chahar finished with incredible figures of 3 for 4 although West Indies recovered to post a decent 146 for 6. Half-centuries from Kohli (59) and Rishabh Pant (65 not out) led India to victory by seven wickets.

#1 Against New Zealand in New Zealand 2020 (5-0)

New Zealand v India - T20: Game 5

India created history by defeating New Zealand 5-0 in the recently concluded T20I series. While India dominated the first two matches, the Kiwis squandered winning opportunities in the last three.

In the first T20I at Auckland, New Zealand posted 203 for five courtesy fifties from Colin Munro (59 from 42), skipper Kane Williamson (51 from 26) and Ross Taylor (54 not out from 27). However, Lokesh Rahul (56 from 27) and Shreyas Iyer (58 not out from 29) were equally brilliant in the chase as India hunted down the target in 19 overs. Captain Kohli also contributed a crucial 45.

In the low-scoring second T20I at the same venue, Ravindra Jadeja’s 2 for 18 restricted New Zealand to 132 for 5. Rahul’s unbeaten half-century and Shreyas Iyer’s 44 took India to victory with ease.

The third and fourth games were decided on Super Overs, which is clearly New Zealand’s Achilles' heel. Back-to-back sixes by Rohit Sharma saw India win the series in the Super Over as they chased down 18 at Hamilton. Rohit had earlier contributed 65 with the bat.

In an action replay at Wellington, India won the Super Over again, chasing 14. This time, Rahul was the Super Over star with a six and a four off the first two balls. Both at Hamilton and Wellington, Tim Southee was at the receiving end in the Super Over.

The final match did not go into the Super Over, but was another lost opportunity for the hosts. Despite Rohit’s 60 from 41, India only managed 163 batting first. In response, New Zealand recovered from a poor start to reach a healthy 116 for 3 in the 13 over.

However, Tim Seifert’s dismissal on 50 (30 balls) gave India a window, and they ended up winning by seven runs, despite Ross Taylor’s 53.