India vs New Zealand 2017: 3rd T20I, 5 things we learnt from the match

Jasprit Bumrah delivered two outstanding overs, conceding just nine runs and picking up the vital wickets of Colin Munro and Henry Nicholls, to help India defend 67 in a rain-shortened series decider at Trivandrum on Tuesday. With just eight overs to play, Indian batsmen couldn't quite get going as New Zealand bowled with discipline and tack on a two-paced wicket.

The visitors were always favourites after they had restricted the hosts to 67 but Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled Guptill with a knuckleball and Bumrah sent Munro back in the next over to leave the Kiwis grappling. Chahal and Kuldeep bowled two further economical overs as New Zealand found themselves needing 29 in 12 balls. Bumrah gave just 10 away (4 of them in byes) as Hardik Pandya was left with 19 to defend. He conceded just 12 and India cruised to a series victory.

#5 Rain almost ruins Trivandrum's return to International cricket

Trivandrum hosted an International Match for the first time since 1988

Kerala hadn't witnessed an ODI for a long time with Kochi being the last venue to host an International cricket match. But a pretty grand stadium in the capital city of the state prompted the BCCI to stage a T20 International here as New Zealand came visiting. With torrential rains in the state, a return to International cricket seemed rather unlikely a day before.

The toss was delayed as rains continued to pour down in the state, but eventually, an eight-over contest was possible after some admirable work from the ground staff post the rains. A rather large crowd had gathered hours before the start of the game to witness a rare spectacle in the city and thankfully an eight-over delight satisfied their appetite.

#4 Southee's double strike

Southee had a forgettable series thus far

Tim Southee was seen in a lengthy discussion with coach Mike Hesson and skipper Kane Williamson prior to the second T20I and when the team sheets came out, his name was missing. The experienced Southee had been a huge disappointment in the series and the Kiwis rightly kept him out to accommodate Ish Sodhi and Adam Milne in the second T20I.

However, things changed at Trivandrum as Southee was brought in for Milne, probably considering how his swing could be a potent weapon under cloudy skies and the Kiwi pacer didn't disappoint. He sent back Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma off consecutive balls. Dhawan was undone by a slower length ball while Rohit got a slower bouncer the very next ball.

#3 Ish Sodhi vs Virat Kohli proving to be an enticing battle

Sodhi has been impressive for the Kiwis in T20s

In the 2016 World T20 in India, the hosts were faced with New Zealand in the tournament opener and it turned out to be a memorable match for the Black Caps as their spinners - Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner - spun a web around the Indians on a dry Nagpur pitch. Sodhi claimed the prized scalp of Kohli after bamboozling him with some huge turn.

Here, the Indian skipper started off with a bang against the leggie, dismissing him through mid-wicket with a pull shot before stepping down the track and lofting him for a maximum over long-on of consecutive balls. But the Kiwi spinner had the last laugh as two balls later, Kohli miscued a pull off a fuller length ball to be caught in the deep.

#2 Bumrah is a menace in the shorter formats

Bumrah's wide array of variations make him a T20 giant

Jasprit Bumrah is a young Lasith Malinga all over again. With a slew of variations, the Indian pacer is virtually impossible to get away and is now becoming one of the most threatening T20 bowlers in World cricket. He was at it again in a rain-curtailed deciding ODI against the Kiwis at Trivandrum.

Chasing 68 to win, New Zealand were pegged back when Colin Munro, their hero from the last game, got frustrated by Bumrah's length and went for a non-existent loft of a short of a length delivery. Rohit Sharma pouched a spectacular catch and India had their tails up. Bumrah returned to get rid of Henry Nicholls in a 10 run over, four of which came in byes. He ended with figures of 2-0-9-2, decisive in the context of a shortened game.

#1 Batsmen fail to get going on sticky wicket

New Zealand's Martin Guptill was undone by a Bhuvneshwar knuckle ball

The pitch looked anything but free-scoring after rains poured down for a long duration but it still seemed like an 80 would be on the cards in eight overs. However, the pitch was a tad sticky as the ball stuck onto the surface, making run scoring a bit difficult. India perished by attempting a lot of shots early on and New Zealand, despite watching it all in one innings, made pretty much the same mistakes.

All batsmen seemed to be in a hurry to get things moving with boundaries and the value of running between the wickets was nearly forgotten. None applied themselves as the bowlers from either side mixed up the slower balls and cutters to devastating effects. Bhuvneshwar Kumar even unleashed his favourite knuckle ball to get rid of Martin Guptill.